Tag: dogs

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7 Natural Remedies for Common Dog Skin Issues

Dogs love to scratch random parts of their bodies. Occasionally feeling itchy is normal among our furry friends. However, if they have been tirelessly scratching for quite some time, there might be underlying skin issues that need to be checked. 

Medications can vary from items you can buy in your local pet shop to the ones prescribed by veterinarians. You might also consider alternative natural, safe, and effective medications for your dog’s skin issues. Let’s explore your options through this guide. 

Soothing Itchy Skin

There are many reasons why your dog is suffering from itchy skin. Causes could vary from seasonal allergies and contact dermatitis to sarcoptic mange. 

If you do dog grooming by yourself, you should consider investing in high-quality dog grooming supplies that promote healthy coats and prevent dog skin issues like itchy skin. 

There are many triggers for itchy skin. While it’s frustrating to determine the reason yourself, there are safe, natural remedies to relieve the itching. 

For example, herbal tea soaks contain green tea, calendula, and chamomile, which can help reduce inflammation and cool your dog’s irritated skin. You can just soak them in a tub for three minutes and soak your dog in the tub for five minutes. 

If the dog frequently scratches only a few spots, you can soak a tea bag in a cup of hot water. Let it cool down, and pour it into the itchy spot afterward. Let it dry, and don’t rinse it yet. 

In addition, a colloidal oatmeal bath can help ease the inflammation in your dog’s itchy skin. You just have to mix it with warm water and bathe your dog with it. If there’s no colloidal oatmeal available, you can just use regular oatmeal. 

Moreover, aloe vera works well in soothing a dog’s itchy skin. You can guarantee that pure aloe vera is safe in case your dog licks the itchy area. 

Treating Dry Skin

Dry skin isn’t a special case among canines. It could result in potential dandruff and enduring itchiness if not treated immediately. Some underlying reasons for a dog’s dry skin are low humidity, poor nutrition, allergies, infection, parasites, and metabolic disorders. 

The good thing is that there are effective remedies that you can try. For instance, coconut oil has antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial properties and moisturizes your dog’s skin.

Apple cider vinegar can also effectively remedy a dog’s dry skin. You can just mix an equal proportion of water and apple cider vinegar and pour it into a spray bottle. Apply it to specific spots, but ensure it doesn’t come in contact with hot spots since it could be stingy. 

Managing Hot Spots

If your dog scratches a specific spot repetitively, it may result in hot spots. Symptoms of hotspots include redness and hair loss in an area of your dog’s body. Many factors can lead to hotspots, with allergic reactions and flea infestations being the most common.

The most effective natural treatment for hotspots is aloe vera. First, trim the fur surrounding the affected area and gently cleanse the hotspot with a clean cloth soaked in cool water. Next, apply a thick aloe vera gel layer to the hotspots’ area. 

You should do this twice daily for several days and observe if the hotspot is healing. Aloe vera shampoo can also be a supplementary treatment whenever you bathe your dog. After bathing your dog, let them dry and apply a coat of aloe vera gel, as mentioned above. 

Addressing Fleas and Ticks

Fleas and ticks are among the most common perpetrators of typical skin problems in dogs. All of the nonstop scratching and itching sensations were caused by these tiny pests infesting your dog’s fur. 

It’s also important to note that there are dogs who are allergic to flea saliva, resulting in welts, swelling, and skin lesions. Flea bites can also lead to more serious cases like anemia. 

As a furparent, the best thing you can do is seek natural remedies to eliminate these parasites. You should dilute lemon juice with water and add dog shampoo to the mixture. You can use this to bathe your dog.

Relieving Allergies

Your dog’s allergies can be triggered by many factors, such as dog food, other seasonal allergies, dog shampoo, and other topical products that could trigger a range of reactions. Common signs and symptoms of skin allergies in dogs include flakey skin, hair loss, excessive scratching, and rubbing of the ears.

Recently changed routines can prompt allergies. For instance, if you have switched to another dog food brand and saw the allergy coming out, it might be caused by the newly introduced food to your dog. The safest thing to do is to buy human-grade food products. 

Check if these food items contain omega-3 fatty acids, which help maintain a healthy coat and skin. 

Healing Wounds

There might be days when your dog gets extra energetic. Their excitement could sometimes lead to accidents, resulting in open wounds. Just like treating human wounds, you can use gauze or a clean, dry cloth to stop bleeding in a dog’s fresh wound.

Wounds could cause inflammation, so using natural antiseptics like turmeric, aloe vera, coconut oil, and witch hazel can speed up the healing process of your dog’s wound. Dogs hate the spicy smell of turmeric, so they would avoid licking the wound where you’ve administered the natural remedy.

Dealing with Mange

Mange mites are tiny parasites that inhabit and feed on dogs’ skin cells. Your dog is most vulnerable to mange when their immune system is weak. In some cases, mange could be contagious. Your dog may get mange through contact with another animal with mange or through infected bedding. 

Plain yogurt can be used as a natural remedy for mange. It contains acidophilus, which can help fight mange mites. Just apply it to your dog’s ear to ensure they can’t lick it off. You can also add apple cider vinegar to your dog’s food. It can help your dog manage itchy and irritated skin caused by mange. 

Conclusion

While you can administer the natural remedy we’ve mentioned here by yourself, it’s important to consult a veterinarian for a proper diagnosis. Follow the doctor’s instructions and buy all the medications needed. If you really want to give natural remedies a try, you can talk to the vet about it and see what remedies can be suitable for your fur baby. 

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Brand Highlights

Tick Control Strategies for Your Dog and Home

A hand petting a dog's head

Ticks are a common problem that can cause Lyme disease and other diseases to spread, so it’s essential to know how to control ticks on your dog and home.

Checking your pet regularly for ticks is an effective way to prevent infection and keep your dog healthy. It’s also important to be aware of peak tick season in your area.

Reducing Tick-Friendly Habitats

Ticks can cause serious health problems for your dog. They are mainly active during spring and summer, so reducing tick-friendly habitats for your dog and your home is essential.

Use the following strategies to reduce tick-friendly habitats:

Landscape management, i.e., mulches and hardscapes (patios, paths, decks, etc.) can reduce tick habitats and increase sun exposure, reducing humidity to facilitate desiccation of ticks. Limiting dense ground cover and decreasing shrub density, particularly in frequently traveled areas of the property, may also limit tick habitats.

Avoid wooded or brushy areas with tall grass and leaf litter. These habitats can provide ideal conditions for nymphal black-legged ticks attracted to accumulating leaves and other plant debris.

If you must walk in wooded or brushy areas, wear light-colored long pants and a long-sleeve shirt to keep ticks off your skin. Likewise, if you’re walking your dog on a trail or in the woods, inspect your pet for ticks when you get home.

Bathing

Bathing is a very important part of maintaining your dog’s overall health and wellness. It’s an excellent way to keep them clean, check for unusual scratches or thorns, and remove fleas.

It’s also an opportunity to brush your dog’s teeth, which can help prevent gingivitis and other dental issues. You can find specialty dog toothbrushes and dog toothpaste at your local pet store or vet’s office.

You can also choose a special shampoo and conditioner for your dog’s needs. But remember, if you use conditioner, thoroughly rinse the soap off your dog’s fur and skin.

The most common and easiest place to bathe your dog is in a bathtub. However, if your dog is large or you have a skittish pup who’s not too comfortable with water, consider using a separate tub just for their bathing needs.

Topical Treatments

There are many different topical treatments for ticks on the market. The most effective ones kill or repel ticks that attach to your pet.

However, these products can cause side effects or adverse reactions in some pets. Be sure to check with your vet to see if they’re safe for your dog.

Alternatively, you can use a product that contains a combination of chemicals called imidacloprid and dinotefuran, which kills ticks by mimicking the effects of nicotine on insects. But read the label carefully, as these pesticides can also be toxic to bees.

Permethrin and permethrin-combination products are the most common insecticides used to treat ticks. These products are effective against most tick species and can help control infestations on your dog and in your home.

Tick Removal

Ticks can infect your dog with various diseases, including Lyme disease. It takes ticks anywhere from 3 to 48 hours before they transmit their infectious saliva, so it’s essential to remove them as soon as possible.

Removing ticks from your dog is easy, especially if you have some tweezers or dental floss around. If you don’t have these tools, try using a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol or liquid dish soap to grab the tick and get it out.

Once you’ve removed the tick, dispose of it properly. You can put it in a sealed container or save it for identification and testing.

Tick removal can be difficult, but it’s important to do it right. The wrong method can cause the tick to stay in your pet, and it’s also possible for pathogens to transfer from a dead tick. Always use gloves when removing ticks from your dog to protect your hands.

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Brand's Resources

Pawjourr’s Creator: Taco_and_Milky

Our latest Pawjourr’s Spotlight needs no introduction… 

Brought together by fate 

A familiar face among our local pet community, Taco and Milky are known for their witty captions and adorable smiles. Taco, a two-year-old Shiba Inu, resided in China — where he was born — for a year before moving to sunny Singapore. A year later, Milky the Pomapoo, joined the family during Deepavali of 2021. 

During every trip, vets would notice that Taco is the ‘zen’ Shiba, who stays out of ‘trouble’. But Milky, on the other hand, is that mischievous playful younger sibling that loves to pester Taco — never a boring day with these two. 

According to their hoodad Irwin, a sign that it was all meant to be, is the fact that both Taco and Milky have the same birthday as hoomom Leah. 

Taco and Milky are all dressed up for the Lunar New Year

Behind our successful superstars…there are their managers

Besides working hard to increase their treats’ fund, both Irwin and Leah, also run their social media account. As a creator, they would connect with other hoodads and hoomoms like them, and share various tips and tricks to provide their fur kids with the best.

Leah has a talent for taking the ‘perfect’ shots while incorporating her creativity into them. Taco and Milky are also natural in front of the camera, always staying calm which allows Leah to take the shots she needs. 

This extra “oomph” gives their assets the personal touch it needs to stand out from the crowd. This led Taco and Milky to score an ambassadorship with YoDoggo. 

Taco enjoying YoDoggo’s convenient meal fix after a long walk

6 months YoDoggo Ambassadorship

YoDoggo’s objective was to find committed brand ambassadors, able to promote their brand and products while sharing the same value of providing the best nutrients for dogs — and Taco fit the bill!

As an ambassador for YoDoggo, Taco can enjoy the perks that come with the job!   

  • Monthly meals delivered to their doorstep for 6 months
  • A personalized discount code for followers 
  • Attractive referral commissions
  • Monthly cash reimbursement

In exchange, they would actively promote the brand on their social media for their tenure as ambassadors. 

Endless experience in pet modeling

Besides being YoDoggo’s ambassadors, Taco and Milky continue to build their pet modeling portfolio by participating in various campaigns. Milky has appeared in a campaign for Himalaya Pet Wellness and Taco for Beco Pets.

Taco for our #LifeatPawjourr campaign

And that’s not all, Taco also has the experience as an on-site talent for our #LifeatPawjourr campaign. Both Taco and Milky are very easy to work with, as they’re not shy about being in front of the camera, able to take picture-perfect shots and videos which brands can find useful. After every campaign, brands are presented with new assets that they can utilize as User-generated Content (UGC) for their marketing campaign. 

Milky posing for Himalaya Pet Wellness

Tap into our vast network of creators

Want to work with experienced pet models like Taco and Milky? Reach out to us at hello@pawjourr.com. 

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Community Stories

Aon’s Happy Tales: Little.coco.beans

Every pawrent would know all too well of the love and joy their fur kid brings. Which is why they’d want to provide the best, and only the best, to ensure they lead a healthy and happy life — something Coco Beans’ “hooman slave”, Helen, believes wholeheartedly.

Meet Coco Beans the Toy Poodle

Coco Beans was blessed to have found a forever home with Helen after being rehomed at the age of one. Since then, she has been the little angel of the family, charming everyone with her bright personality.

As an important member of the family, she has been included in their getaway trips, having been to 5 different countries like the Top of Europe in Switzerland where she was able to experience snow for the first time. 

To Helen, Coco Beans always come first, where adventures like this are worth it, no matter the trouble of bringing a pet overseas. 

The Beginning of a Fashionista Lifestyle

Helen thoroughly enjoys spending time with Coco, doing absolutely everything and anything. Their favorite pastime includes, café hopping, car rides, trying out delicious snacks and pet accessories.

“We also like to bring her to the parks. Our favorite parks are Gardens by the Bay and Botanic Gardens because these two parks have a host of eateries nearby for Coco!”

As she gets to try new snacks every now and then, Coco has grown to become a foodie, with a dedicated compartment in the fridge which stores her fresh food and homemade treats — sounds like heaven!

Amidst the adventures, Helen never forgets to capture down the moment! And thanks to Coco’ peaceful temperament, Helen can easily get the perfect shot she needs.

Where Coco Beans shines the most; in front of the camera

Always Staying On The Safe Side

Toy Poodles are prone to health problems like Cataracts, Bladder Stones, Hip Dysplasia, and Thyroid issues — among many others. Coupled with friends whose fur kids contracted cancer and Luxating Patella, Helen was determined to get Coco protected and insured. 

“Singapore is a small country where vet care and pet facilities are easily accessible but they are relatively expensive. So one of our concerns is the cost of vet care especially for long term medical treatment, such as hereditary illnesses or cancer which is quite common nowadays.” She added. 

Coco Beans showing off her newest kicks

“How did you decide on Aon’s Happy Tails?”

When it comes to pet insurance, Helen knows what she wants for Coco; medical and lifetime coverage. Most insurance plans strictly cover accidents and injuries only, which is not enough for Helen. 

Thankfully, Aon’s Happy Tails covers the treatment of any illnesses, injury or accident including post surgical follow-up during the policy term. Aon, known for their comprehensive coverages, also covers specified hereditary, congenital conditions and most importantly, offering lifetime coverage. 

“Do you think pawrents should consider insuring their fur kids?”

“If we humans have insurance coverage for health and accidents, I think pet owners should also consider pet insurance for their fur babies. This will allow us to have a peace of mind and defray the expenses of the medical expenses especially for long term medical conditions.”

*Bonus Content*

If Coco Beans could speak hooman for 7 days, what would you say to her, and do with her?

“If Coco Beans could speak hooman for 7 days, we would tell her that we love her to the moon and back. And would ask her what all her favorite foods and places were. Then, we would bring her to all her favorite places with her favorite food (of course in moderation). If time permits, we would bring her overseas again and spend some happy family time during these 7 days.”

**All information found within this article is subject to the terms and conditions of Aon Happy Tails

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Brand Highlights Community Stories

What is the BARF diet and how can it benefit your pet’s health?

Golden Retriever and British shorthair cats are eating

This article was brought to you by our collaboration with The Daily Barf.

Many dog owners have heard of the BARF diet, but they often wonder what it stands for. 

BARF. Also known as “biologically appropriate raw foods” or “bones and raw food” is a diet that practices raw feeding to your pets.

There are many misconceptions surrounding BARF diets. “Is it good for my pet? Is it bad?” Well, we are here to debunk those myths, and tell you how your pets can benefit from a BARF diet!

Myth #1: Dry foods are healthier than raw food

The truth is that commercial dry foods can cause obesity, diabetes, allergies, cancer, and other health issues. This is because store-bought products usually contain a long list of ingredients and preservatives that are not healthy for your pets. 

Additionally, these products also tend to contain animal and grain by-products that we humans wouldn’t eat. Overall, these ingredients can contribute to health problems for your pets as they are not part of their natural diet.

Myth #2: Feeding your pets raw meat and bones is dangerous

There is a difference between raw and cooked bones. Raw bones are soft, easy to digest, and provide a major source of calcium and phosphorus.

On the other hand, cooked bones are dangerous for your pet as moisture is removed from the bones making them brittle and splinter when eaten.

Furthermore, dogs and cats are descendants of wolves and wildcats. As part of their ancestral diet, they survive purely on raw meat, bones, and organs. These foods give them the nutrients they need to keep their bodies healthy and strong. 

Myth #3: Raw meat makes my pets more aggressive

This is false. As your pet transitions to a BARF diet, they may appear more possessive of their raw meat and bones as they view those with a higher value than a regular bowl of kibbles.

If you’re feeding 2 or more of your pets, it’s best to feed them separately to avoid any aggression between them. Over time, when your pet realizes this isn’t a one-off treat for them, the protectiveness would gradually disappear.

Myth #4: Feeding raw meat places your dog at risk of Salmonella

Dogs and cats are not created the same. Uncooked meat that would make us sick does not affect canines in the same way.

The hydrochloric acid in the stomach is a protective enzyme against bacteria, viruses, or other microorganisms that can cause disease. 

Secondly, a cat/dog’s stomach is highly acidic and, combined with its short digestive tract, is designed to push bacteria out quickly without giving it time to stay.

Thirdly, the natural flora digestive enzymes and bile in their body help them process bacteria without upsetting their healthy balance.

Myth #5: Cooked diets contain more nutrients

On the contrary, raw meat is easier to digest than cooked meat. Dogs and cats have evolved over thousands of years to break down and absorb the essential nutrition from raw meat, not cooked meat or grains.

Furthermore, cooked meat lacks the benefits of raw meat as well as essential nutrients because the act of cooking destroys or alters the protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals it originally contains.

How to get started

Transition from kibbles to BARF diet:

When introducing your pets to raw diets, you’d want to take things slow and see how they react to them. Your pets would require some time to adjust to the change in diet. Observe their behavioral changes and specifically their bowel movements.

Here’s a guide you can follow:

Read more about transition diets here.

Feeding guide:

A rule of thumb is to feed 2-4% of your pet’s body weight depending on the activity level of your pet. If your pet is highly active, we would recommend feeding 3-4% of its current body weight. For pets at home who do not get much exercise daily, we recommend about 2-3% of their current body weight.

How it benefits your pet

The BARF diet has a ton of benefits, containing all the important nutrients your pets need to live a long and healthy life!

It can improve your pet’s immune system, improve their energy levels, healthier skin and coat, and many more! You can read more about the benefits of the BARF diet here!

What are you waiting for? Get your pet started on a BARF diet here.

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Brand Highlights Community Stories

We tried Singapore’s first gently cooked & freeze-dried dog food, here’s how it went!

This article is in partnership with YoDoggo.

Say hello to Loki

This Pembroke Welsh Corgi goes by the name of Loki and is no different from his namesake. This poster child of mischief is always roaring for adventure, especially eyeing some delicious treats. 

Three-year-old Loki has been on a raw diet since maturing. Though he enjoys fresh food, there are some challenges faced, when sticking to a raw diet:

  1. Sourcing for the right ingredients
  2. Ensuring a complete and balanced meal
  3. The difficulty when it comes to handling raw food
  4. Hours spent on meal preparation each time
Photo credit: @lokithetoast

Starting the YoDoggo journey

YoDoggo began its humble journey with a mission to reimagine dog food here in Singapore. We all know the importance of choosing pet food made with premium ingredients, all for the well-being of our doggos. But these premium quality foods are typically very expensive, making the search for premium food to screeching halts.

However, with YoDoggo, you no longer have to break the bank to provide your fur kids with the best! All you have to do is fill up a form, and YoDoggo does the rest — getting high-quality food has never been easier!

Through this form, they’re able to assess the nutrients that your pet needs, based on its age, breed, size, etc. With this information, the experts at YoDoggo are able to recommend the perfect plan for your fur kid. So you don’t have to worry about a thing.

Benefits of choosing YoDoggo

  1. COMPLETE AND BALANCED DIET

YoDoggo’s gently cooked, freeze-dried fresh food is formulated with your dogs’ well-being in mind. Simply feed your doggos the meals just as it is, and enjoy its benefits — the same nutrients as fresh food, just without the hassle and mess!

Additionally, YoDoggo’s meals are developed based on the dog’s ancestral diets, which contain high levels of proteins, balanced fats, and low carbohydrates. All recipes have 90% fresh human-grade ingredients!

  1. CONVENIENCE

With their mission to provide easier access to premium quality food, their food packs are portable in all occasions. Especially since their food packs mustn’t always be frozen! You can even bring it outdoors while going on a hike, or chasing some ocean waves with your fur pal.

  1. MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION

Subscribe to one of their many plans and you’ll receive monthly meals delivered directly to your doorstep. So you no longer have to stock up which compromises the freshness and quality of your pet’s food.

Final thoughts

Loki really enjoyed YoDoggo’s gently cooked, freeze-dried food packs — devouring them in a matter of seconds. Hence, we’d usually serve it in a slow-feed bowl, to prevent Loki from eating it too quickly and throwing up afterward.

The convenience YoDoggo food packs bring is endless! Now you can save time on meal prep, while your fur kids enjoy tasty, nutritious food, anytime and anywhere.

A treat just for you

Always wanted to get started on your YoDoggo journey? Now’s the time as YoDoggo has a surprise for you!

They are giving away a 30-day food pack to ONE lucky winner, part of their giveaway till 2 December 2022. Head over to our Instagram for more information!

But wait there’s more! Before you go and participate in the exclusive giveaway, YoDoggo is also having a promotion; 10% off  for first month new users! So what are you waiting for? Start your YoDoggo journey today.

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Brand Highlights Community Stories

5 Care Tips for your Pet’s Healthy and Happy Life

This article is brought to you by Pets Club SG.

As responsible pet owners, it is our duty to provide the best for our fur kids. Cats have an average life expectancy of 15 years, and dogs on the other hand, have 12 years. That said, all these depend on their size, and breed. Other factors that affect their life expectancy, includes gender, genetics, lifestyle, exercise, and many more!

Studies have shown that the key to a long life is based on two main factors, genetics, and lifestyle choices. While genetics are out of our control, we can offer our fur kids with the proper care and food to ensure they lead a healthy and happy life!

Here are some tips you can follow to ensure just that!

Regular Veterinary Appointments

It is recommended to bring your fur kids in for a visit at least once a year. These annual visits should be doubled if you have a senior pet at hand! It may be hard to admit sometimes, but our precious fur kids do age faster than us humans.

These important visits allow you to learn what is normal for your pet at their age, and what you can do to improve their well-being. That is why early check-ups are vital, even if something seems insignificant, initiating preventive measures can help to prolong your fur kid’s life.

Plenty of Exercise

Obesity among pets can lead to a myriad of health issues. It is seen as the number one nutritional disease among pets by veterinarians. To keep your pets lean, take them out for regular exercises. 

Exercise ideas for Cats:

  • Toy chase (cat wand or flashlight)
  • Take them for a walk
  • Cat tower
  • Short but frequent playtimes

Cats have short bursts of energy, play in five or ten minute sessions, and let them catch their breath. It is also good to note that cats have very short attention spans, hence, it’s recommended to switch up the activities frequently. 

Exercise ideas for Dogs:

  • Walk around the block
  • Playing fetch at the park
  • Bring them along for a hike
  • Take them out to swim
  • Tug-of-war

Even though every dog may need to exercise, some may need more or less than others. So take note of your dog’s limits, and give them ample water afterwards.

Healthy Diet

Make sure your pet is getting the proper nutrition for their breed and age. Being overweight can shorten your pet’s life by as much as two years, so it’s important to get them on a healthy diet!

NUTRIPE ESSENCE offers a wide array of benefits with countless nutrients your pets need, from prebiotics to digestive enzymes. Their dry food range is formulated to maintain an appropriate balance of good bacteria in your pet’s gastrointestinal system. Besides absorbing nutrients, the digestive system plays a crucial role in fluid balance, and transporting electrolytes into circulation. It also supports their immune system, preventing diseases. 

You can get started here!

Socializing

Pets do get bored sometimes, and it can lead to serious issues. Keep your pets entertained by playing with them. As much as possible, bring them out for paw-dates, engaging in socializing activities with other fur friends. When you’re out for some fun and games, always bring along their favorite toys, and buy backups –in case it gets lost!

By developing a familiarity with other hoomans and fur friends, it can help minimize serious behavioral issues like aggression or nervousness. The exposure teaches your pet how to react to the world around them in a healthy way, without feeling scared or anxious. 

Clean and Comfortable Living Environment

Good hygiene is the key to a healthy life. This also includes the environment your fur kids are exposed to on a daily basis. As a pet owner, it can be tiring to maintain optimum cleanliness in your house. However, it is our duty to provide a comfortable living quarter for your fur kid. 

Purchase additional drinking bowls, towels, combs, toothbrushes, and other pet essentials to ensure you’re always prepared to cater to their needs. 


Pro-tip: Do not leave your pets unsupervised. Allowing them to roam freely can lead to unexpected accidents, including automobile accidents, predation, exposure to allergic foods, and etc.

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Creator's Academy

How To Become A Pet Influencer Parent

We all click photos of our pets and pamper them with our love. Occasionally, we also post some cuteness-overloaded pictures for all to enjoy across social media platforms. Generally, images and videos of pets garner greater attention. Have you ever considered making a career using this natural attention that your pet receives?

Like all content creators, a pet influencer must have a recognizable personality. Our pets cannot talk to us, but they have quirks and traits that differentiate them from others. We should emphasize characteristics that make them weird, fun, and lovable. We all talk to our pets and imagine a reply they would give us in our heads. Put that out for the public to enjoy and create a consistent persona with our pet’s characteristics.

Grow Your Skills And Followers

A full-time job requires investment. Therefore, planning to be a pet influencer’s parent will require time, money, and dedication. Social media is filled with influencers coming up with new content ideas every other day. To stand out, we need to polish our skills and methods. 

Equipment

Tripods are important : Smartphones can take decent images and videos to get us started with our pet influencer account. But, to grow our social media account into a full-time hustle, pet videos and pictures must be high in quality. Therefore, we must invest in equipment like lights, cameras, tripods, and stabilizers. 

Photography and Cinematography Skills

Proper equipment can only alleviate our images and videos to a certain extent. However, truly bringing the best out of our pets requires learning new skills and techniques. We should practice taking pictures of our pets and try to improve upon them.

Learn about the camera

Photography and cinematography courses are readily available across the internet, and they can help us understand the minute details that are too complicated for a casual hobbyist. For example, how to utilize natural and artificial light in our photos and videos, use tripods and stabilizers, the correct camera setting depending on the environment, etc. 

Followers

With a unique personality, the proper equipment, and the necessary skills, we can start building a fanbase. Consistency is required when it comes to social media following. Utilizing photographs, videos, stories, shorts, reels, and live features of a platform is necessary to maintain consistency. To be consistent on instagram, you can use an Instagram reel maker to create posts quickly and easily.

Track activity and engagement

Using stories and comment sections, we should interact with the pages and accounts of different pet influencers to attract followers of our own. We can also use hashtags to increase the visibility of our pet influencer content. 

Start Monetizing

Once we have built up a loyal fanbase of a considerable amount, say 10,000 followers, we should start looking for sponsors relevant to the page. Like all other businesses, influencer management is also dependent upon networking. Some brands might approach us themselves for paid promotions , but we should also prepare ourselves to pitch our business to the brands.

What to Pitch?

It is important to define clear goals and requirements. While brands usually engage in paid sponsorships, some might offer an exchange of products and/or services, and some offer a mixture. Receiving perks like a day at a pet spa or free access to toys and other goodies is lucrative. But we should always assess the worth of our page and quote a fair price.

Dog spa and grooming

Firstly, we should get a rough idea from other social media accounts. Brands that usually sponsor those accounts will be interested in our social media page.

Next, approaching brands via email is the best method. We should highlight to the sponsor that our pet regularly uses and loves their products. Mentioning the natural, strong growth of our pet influencer account is necessary. It will help us ask for a price that we think is fair.

And finally, we should stay in our domain. Reaching sponsors that are relevant to our pets is very important. Endorsing a dog skincare product if our pet is a Persian cat makes little sense.

Affiliate Programs

Affiliate marketing can help us earn a good amount of money. It is a referral program where a retailer pays us commissions for every purchase made using our affiliate link. We need to divert traffic from our social media page to the retailer site to earn money. For example, if we have a YouTube Petfluencer account, we can make youtube videos and put a link in description to promote affiliate products.

Affiliate merchant

Joining the correct affiliate merchant can be a tricky part. Some merchants provide better commissions, sales, and bonuses over others. We should do proper research before partnering with a merchant.

Promoting products we vouch for is a healthy way to gain the trust of our followers. But it is not always the case. We can promote products we have not personally used if we are assured of their quality. Moreover, affiliates and sponsored posts should be mandatorily disclosed, and we should follow all the guidelines.

Merch is Cute and Profitable

Thanks to our lovable pets’ unique personalities and fan following, merchandise will sell like hotcakes. Physical products with cute designs and photos of our pets can be sold at merchant websites that act like affiliates.

These merchants stock up on socks, shirts, t-shirts, hoodies, and even pillows. They are direct-to-print merchants that print a design only after an order is placed. Therefore, inventory management is a non-issue. They are the ones who build websites for our products; we only need to design and promote them. Instagram is a great platform to promote merchandise. To create some engaging stories with minimal effort, you can use some prebuilt Instagram story templates.

Pet merchandise

Wrapping Up

While being a pet influencer parent is a full-time job, it is one of the most rewarding and fun career paths. However, it can be difficult to make a living from it. Earnings come from sponsors, affiliates, and merch only after we have built our brand using interesting content. Interactive social media filters, apps, and tools like Instagram reel makers to produce content on the go. All this can be done alongside having fun with our pets!

Categories
News and Trends

4 booths you don’t want to miss at Pet Expo 2022!

Stop whatever you’re doing because PetExpo 2022 is back! 

In the past two years, PetExpo has been held online due to COVID-19 restrictions. Well, good news; it’s back as a physical event. 

It’s been a while since PetExpo was held physically, and I bet you’re hoping to find out what’s new and what you can expect at this year’s convention. So, here are 4 booths you do not want to miss at PetExpo 2022!

YoDoggo

Can’t seem to find high-quality fresh food for your doggo? Stop the search! ‘Cause beloved YoDoggo is part of this year’s lineup! 

They specialize in making completely balanced, 100% human-grade food for dogs and here’s what YoDoggo’s ambassador, Bubbles the pompom, have to say about their products:

“4 months into my YoDoggo journey, and we love how convenient YoDoggo has been as my daily protein and nutrition source. Fresh meat and veggies without freezing or thawing, how much better can it get?” 

Photo credit: @bubbles_thepompom

And they have a treat just for those who drop by their booths! There is an event-only promotion:  20% off on your first month for all new customers. So if you’re hoping to start your YoDoggo journey, now’s the time!

Booth number: M13

Pet Lovers Centre

Household name, Pet Lovers Centre (PLC) has been a familiar face at PetExpo conventions, so it’s no surprise that they’re part of this year’s lineup! 

For this year’s convention, you can expect a PLC photobooth for all three days – doesn’t that sound exciting? All you have to do is to follow their Instagram account (@plc_singapore) and:

  • Be entitled to a free dress-up photoshoot session with a variety of props to choose from
  • Get a free polaroid

Upload your photoshoot image(s) on Instagram, and tag PLC to join their giveaway with prizes worth $50. So be sure to check them out!

Booth number: L19

Levupets

It can be convenient to buy accessories off-the-shelf, but the horror of discovering it doesn’t fit your furkids can be frustrating. However, shopping for pet accessories shouldn’t be a nightmare.

Looking to spice up your furkids’ appearance with some bespoke pet accessories? We have some good news because Levupets is part of this year’s lineup and you do not want to miss their booth!

They’ll be having special promotions throughout PetExpo 2022, which you can check out here:

That’s right, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you; with every $80 purchased, you’re entitled to a sure win scratch-card — what a steal!

But wait, there’s more! You can expect brand new products such as:

  • Harness
  • Leash
  • Hair clips

Along with their new collection, Upcycled Kimono Bow Ties. 

Don’t miss this chance to try out some bespoke accessories perfect for both dogs and cats!

Booth number: G21

Photo credit: @tomonhajime

Adoption Drive

The highly anticipated adoption drive, organized by the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS), and supported by Animal Welfare Group (AWG) Partners is back at PetExpo 2022!

Previous years’ reception was very successful, with many rescued animals given a second chance to find their forever home.

If you’re looking to add a new member to your loving family, you don’t have to look far! There are all types of animals available at the drive, from fluffy bunnies to adorable dogs. Not sure what animals suit you? Feel free to ask the staff or volunteers that are ready to answer any questions.

Note: Being a pet owner is never easy, with many responsibilities that follow. Hence, AWGs do hold screening processes to ensure the welfare of these animals. 

Event Details 

You can buy a ticket online for PetExpo 2022 from 11 November onwards, or at the door from 25th to 27th November (Fri – Sun) at Singapore Expo Hall 6.

Opening hours

11am – 8pm on Friday

10am – 8pm on Saturday & Sunday

Admission

$5 for one-day admission

$12 for three-day admission

Free for children under 12 and all pets are welcomed!

*Bonus*

In partnership with AVS, PetExpo 2022 is bringing back the highly demanded free health check. That’s right, you heard me! You can get a free health check for your pets on-site for free. 

So what are you waiting for? Sign up here: bit.ly/avspetexpo2022

Categories
Community Stories

Aon’s Happy Tales: Bailey_japspitz

It goes without saying that a pawrent’s biggest wish is to provide a healthy and comfortable life for their fur kid. It can be difficult at times, but to Joanne, pawmom to her two-years-old Japanese Spitz Bailey, it’s all worth it!

Working as a real estate agent, Joanne’s flexible working schedule allows her to spend more time with her loved ones, especially Bailey.

Forever floofy

Japanese Spitz are known to be energetic fur balls who are faithful, affectionate, and well-behaved — with Bailey checking all the boxes. Bailey can always be seen with a smile on his face. He is super friendly with other dogs and even strangers!

And that’s not all! Bailey is also the master of peace; small baby hoomans could be picking at him, and smaller fur friends could be barking incessantly in his face, and he will remain unfazed, waiting patiently for his hoomans to save him.

Another interesting fact about Bailey is that he treasures cleanliness the most! He does not dirty the house even with the worst tummy aches, “the sweetest boy,” says pawmom Joanne.

“Can we eat now?”

The perfect Spitz

Joanne had been searching for a new dog from Australian and New Zealand breeders for a long time, but it took a pause when her previous dog of 14 years had passed on. 8 years later, with the intention of getting a new fur kid, Joanne was recommended by fellow dog owners to search for breeders under Dogz Online.

One of the breeders reached out, with the intention of rehoming seven-month-old Bailey within New Zealand, and with much assurance and convincing, Bailey eventually became the breeder’s first and only export out of New Zealand!

Bailey came from a niche kennel in South New Zealand that breeds Japanese Spitz to perfection mainly for dog shows. The breeders do it out of passion, with the aim of achieving pristine breed standards — not for mass breeding and sale.

As Bailey has a lower confidence level and a larger build that exceeds maximum entry size, he was put for adoption. But, he still makes a perfect house pet!

Bailey wandering around dreamland.

Preparations for the future

Japanese Spitz are known to be prone to Luxating Patella. However, by choosing to import Bailey from an ethical breeder, it allows Joanne to be at ease knowing Bailey was bred to perfection in terms of looks and health. That’s why it was important to Joanne not to get a new dog from backyard breeders.

“Dogs are paired ethically to avoid health issues inherent to the breed as much as possible,” added Joanne.

That said, the best preparation for the worst is always assurance. As a pawrent to a silky terrier before Bailey, Joanne had to spend a bomb to fly in a specialist that manages canine cataracts. In times of emergencies, she hopes to reduce her worry about medical bills and focus more on Bailey’s recovery.

Joanne was introduced to Aon Happy Tails through a recommendation from other pet owners. With a couple Google searches and reviews, Joanna was enticed by their comprehensive coverage and benefits! 

“We are on the Furball plan because my take is to either do it or not do it. Once decided and committed to do so, then it is nothing short of the best within the category!”

Bailey looks trendy as ever.

*Bonus Content*

If Bailey could speak hooman for 7 days, what would you say to him, or do with him?

“If Bailey could speak hooman for 7 days… then he better use that 7 days to tell us all his likes and dislikes across all categories that will affect his life!”