March Madness

Lions and Tigers and Dogs! Oh, My! While it is often said that "March comes in like a Lion and out like a Lamb", we suspect that college basketball fans may not share that same opinion. As competition reaches fear pitch, teams are vying for the top four spots. Winning those coveted victories to emerge as one of the final four teams is the top of the mountain top. Every fan knows that, right?

March Madness began with a tournament in 1908 and Henry V Porter wrote an article called “March Madness”. From that article he wrote: "A little March madness may complement and contribute to sanity and help keep society on an even keel". We couldn’t agree more.

If you are like most college basketball fans who follow the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, you’ve already noticed lots of “Cats” & “Dogs” are usually invited to the “Big Dance.” Why, you might wonder? Well, could it be that “Cats” have the characteristics of ferocity, determination, and competitiveness and “Dogs” those of courage, aggressiveness & true grit.

No wonder colleges choose either of these for their mascots!

Which Teams Have Dog or Cat Mascots?

The 2010 tournament started with 64 teams, and 21 of those teams were some kind of cat or dog mascot. That’s about 33% off all the teams in the tournament! (20% “Cats” & 13% “Dogs”) Here’s a list of the 2010 tournament teams that have battle-ready catalysts or dogmatic determination for team spirit:

• Kentucky Wildcats

• Wofford Terriers

• Washington Huskies

• New Mexico Lobos

• Clemson Tigers

• Missouri Tigers
• Texas A&M Aggies
• Siena Saints
• Old Dominion Monarchs
• Sam Houston St Bearkats
• Villanova Wildcats
• Northern Iowa Panthers
• Tennessee Volunteers
• Georgetown Hoyas
• Ohio Cougars
• Vermont Catamounts
• Gonzaga Bulldogs
• Butler Bulldogs
• Pittsburgh Panthers
• Brigham Young Cougars
• Kansas St Wildcats

So what does this have to do with our other ”significant other”?  Well, felines & canines know how to get into the game too. However, unlike us, they don’t have a whole month dedicated to the sport like March Madness. Instead, dogs & cats playing basketball just get their “15-minutes of fame” through the waves of the Internet.

If you surf the Internet for videos on dogs or cats playing basketball, you will see a wide range of talent. Some felines and canines can dribble, others rebound, and a few shoot. Our personal favorite? The “alley oops” (See videos below).

We don’t care who wins, but we’re sure hoping it’s some kind of cat or dog! Fans like to get the whole family involved, especially our pets!

Whoever you cheer for, good luck and visit our website. You can check out the “team sports” section under Dress Up, Dine or Play for the team specific jerseys, bowls, collars and more. We have the dog toys or cat toys ready too! Go Team!

Don't Call Me "HAL" -itosis that is....

Many people overlook dental hygiene for their pets because they just expect them to have bad breath!  Dental hygiene is just as important to your pet’s overall heath as things like nutrition, proper exercise and routine grooming.

Since February is Pet Dental Month, I thought it would be a good idea to spend a little time talking about dental care for your dogs and cats. Did you know that 85% of adult cats and dogs are affected by periodontal disease?  Plaque builds up on the teeth and turns into tartar, or calculus. These areas grow bacteria and eat away at the teeth and gums. Halitosis, periodontal disease, oral pain and tooth loss can occur. However, the bacteria not only cause disease in the mouth – they can also affect other parts of the body, like the heart and kidneys. The most important thing to do is try to prevent dental disease by regular maintenance of your pet’s teeth.

There are several things you can do to help keep your dog or cat’s teeth in good shape. Start a dental care routine as early as possible in your pet’s life so they can get used to the feeling of having their teeth brushed and inspected.

1. NEVER brush your pet’s teeth with human toothpaste!! Use special toothpaste made specifically for your dog or cat. This toothpaste gives you a remedy for your pet's bad breath; even if your pets swallow the toothpaste, it will not harm them because of its harmless formulation; and pets are attracted to toothpaste because of the flavors like poultry and beef. 

A Dog and Two Cats.com offers an anti-tartar toothpaste that has a delicious poultry taste (for dogs and cats), a “Kissable” toothpaste for dogs that is all-natural with a vanilla flavor and a Dental Care Kit for Cats that contains a malt flavored toothpaste.

2.  Plaque begins to turn into tartar / calculus within 24-48 hours, so daily brushing is recommended for dogs.  Every other day cleaning provides control of tartar in most cats.   When brushing use a “finger brush” or special long toothbrush designed for use on your pets. When starting out with brushings, the finger brush can help ease your dog into it, as these do not feel as awkward as hard brushes. 

We have several toothbrushes to choose from.  A “Kissable” toothbrush for dogs with a double headed toothbrush that makes it easy to clean all 3 sides of the tooth (also comes with toothpaste); a Dental Care Kit for Cats that has a toothbrush specifically designed for cats, a finger brush, gauze pads, and toothpaste; and a double-headed toothbrush for dogs that also comes with toothpaste.

3. Before you begin, ask your veterinarian to show you some techniques to make tooth brushing easier on you and your pet.

If you are not able to brush your pet’s teeth, don’t be discouraged because there are many new products on the market to help maintain good tooth health.  Consider using special dental treats and/or sprays and gels that can be used to help prevent tartar. There is also a dental rinse that can be added to your pet’s water bowl.  The goal of all these products is to help slow the progression of the periodontal disease.

A Dog and Two Cats.com carries gels, sprays, dental rinses, and dental treats to help you in your pet’s dental health.  Check out our N-Bones Pearly Whites Dental Bone or Bone-A-Mints for dogs. 

Pearly Whites contain clove, a natural astringent, to kill the bacteria that causes tartar buildup. Calcium carbonate and vitamin D3 have been added to build strong and healthy teeth while tri-calcium phosphate will remove tartar during chewing. With the breath freshening powder of peppermint and parsley, your companion can show off those pearly whites with cool minty fresh breath.

Bone-A-Mints® Wheat Free removes plaque, tartar and freshens breath for unbeatable triple action power. Peppermint, parsley, fennel, dill and chlorophyll freshens breath while tri-calcium phosphate is used to remove plaque and tartar during chewing. Now there is an "Everyday" breath freshening treat for companions with allergies to wheat.

For your feline companions try our “Breath Fresh” Dental Rinse or our Oral Care Spray.

The Dental Rinse is a special blend of purified water, food-grade yucca extract and mint oil help reduce odor-causing bacteria, eliminate bad breath and minimize digestive tract odors.  Easy to use - just add it daily to your cat's water.

Our peppermint flavored Oral Care Spray removes plaque and tartar from your pet's teeth--no toothbrush required! Made with all-natural, holistic ingredients, Oral Care Spray safely removes plaque and tartar, reverses oral disease, promotes healthy gums, brightens teeth and kills the bacteria that causes bad breath. We guarantee a 100% refund of your purchase price if you are not satisfied and when you return the unused portion.

Many vets encourage you to bring your pet in annually for teeth cleaning. If you take the time at home to keep your pet’s teeth clean, this should prevent excessive professional cleanings from your vet.  However, the vet will check for other dental problems that may occur such as cavities, broken or extra teeth, severe oral cavity inflammation, and mouth cancer.  So... don’t neglect those vet visits!

Maybe, just maybe, your pet will enjoy the toothbrushing experience as much as this cat:   

Don't forget that A Dog and Two Cats.com is offering a 10% discount on all dog and cat wellness products the entire month of February!
Just enter the code "HEALTH" during checkout.

Happy Cleaning!!

Your Friends at A Dog and Two Cats.com