In the case that you do receive a dog bite, here’s a list of tips on how to handle them.

• If you are unfamiliar with the dog that bit you, the best thing to do is see your doctor. Especially if the bite is deep, you can't stop the bleeding, or there are any signs of infection (redness, swelling, warmth, pus).
• Dog bites can cause infections, which should be be treated with antibiotics, so make sure to gain access to antibacterial ointments as soon as possible after the bite.
• If the dog’s owner is present, share names and contact numbers so you can get proof of rabies vaccination from them.
• Check with the dog’s veterinarian to make sure the rabies vaccine is up to date.
• Gently clean the bite wound with antibacterial soap and water as soon as possible and seek medical attention as soon as possible - either your regular doctor if the wound is mild, or the emergency room if the bite wound is more severe.
• Use common sense to determine the severity of the wound, if in doubt head to the ER.
• Animal control and the police should be notified of the incident so they can make sure the owner of the dog takes steps to prevent their dog from biting someone again.

We all love our dogs, but the truth is that bites sometimes happen. If you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, make sure you take the necessary precautionary measures so it doesn’t happen again. Remember to keep calm; your dog will only sense your nervousness. Also, remember while it might not be YOUR fault your dog bit someone, it’s your responsibility to make sure that person is okay and receives the information requested of you.

Disasters come in many forms - from natural disasters to isolated incidents at your home - and whenever it happens, all family members (including indoor and outdoor pets) need to be protected, remain safe and secure, and have the basic necessities for survival on hand.

Use these suggestions from The Humane Society of the United States, San Diego Humane Society, SPCA and PETA to get started.

• Have an evacuation plan in place at all times. Know which shelters accept pets in case you need to evacuate.
• Keep pet’s vaccinations current. Keep a copy of your pet’s medical records in your files in case you need to take them to a shelter or a boarding facility.
• Have an adequate sized carrier for your pet with enough room to sit, stand and turn around. Label it with contact information.
• If you are staying at home, have pet crates large enough to hold bedding, litter pan, and water bowl plus ample room for your pet to move around.
• Have extra collars, leashes, and a harness for each pet. Collars should have your pet’s name, your name, contact phone number, and alternate number.
• Take pictures of yourself with your pet to prove ownership.
• Put together a pet first aid kit. This should include pet-friendly clippers, bandages, ointments and pet care book. If your pet is on medication, have at least a two-week supply available. Take a pet first aid class so you’ll know what to do in case of an emergency.
• Have a minimum of 3 to 5 days worth of water and food, ample cat litter and a litter pan, food and water bowl, scooper, plastic bags, and sanitary hand wipes.

Having a pet door is also a helpful measure. A door provides not only convenience and easy access for your pet; it also provides security for reentering the home in case wildlife or unfriendly animals are prowling the property. In a disaster, such as fast approaching inclement weather, your pet can enter your home if you're away.

Plan today for unforeseen disasters that can happen anytime and rest easy knowing your pets are also prepared.

Some of the most common reasons for dog aggression and dog bites are:

1. Possessiveness
2. Fear
3. Pain
4. Maternal Instincts

Dogs see humans as members of their pack and attempt to establish their place in the social hierarchy by challenging more submissive family members, especially children. When dogs show dominant gestures like growling while guarding their food dish, and they aren’t scolded for this behavior, they inch up in dominance surpassing certain family members. It is important to have as much knowledge and information as possible when dealing with an aggressive dog. Here are some tips to prevent aggression and biting from your dog:

• Having your dog neutered will decrease their aggression and bite related behaviors
• Exercising and playing with your dog on a regular basis
• Avoid aggression games such as wrestling and tug of war, which can lead to dominance issue
• Establish more rules and boundaries in your home
• Expose your Dog to social situations
• Do not acknowledge pushy behavior
• Make sure your Dog is living on YOUR terms
• If you have children, educate them on the right way to act around dogs
• Seek professional help from your veterinarian if aggression continues

Dogs need affection as much as the next human does, but they might share their affection differently than we’d sometimes like. With these tips in mind you will be able to lessen the amount of aggression your dog shows, therefore minimalizing the random dog bite.

This point was hammered home when Natura Pet Products announced a recall during April on all dry food products for dogs and cats. Natura issued the recall for products with expiration dates on or before March 24^th, 2014 after discovering some dry food had been contaminated with salmonella bacteria. Cats or dogs infected with salmonella can experience decreased energy, diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Salmonella bacteria can also be spread to their owners and cause similar health problems.

Taking care of your cat or dog starts with feeding them food that will make them healthy and strong. How do you know what is good for your pet and what will endanger their health? Reading food labels is a good way of educating yourself which foods contain harmful ingredients.

When you are shopping for pet food, avoid buying foods with these ingredients listed on the label:

Meat by-products

Typical meat by-products include organs such as:

• Lungs
• Spleens
• Kidneys
• Brains
• Livers
• Stomachs
• Intestines

They can also include blood, bone and fatty tissues. These by-products are ground into a coarse meal that can be cooked into dry food or mixed in with wet food. In many cases, material for meal and other by-products is drawn from dead, dying, diseased, or disabled animals that were judged not fit for human consumption before being taken to the rendering plant.

Corn, Wheat & Soy

It seems crazy to think grains would be bad for your pet. The truth is that corn, wheat, and soy are a common source of food allergies and sensitivities for your cat or dog. Carnivores do not have digestive systems equipped to handle carbohydrates and draw no nutrition from grains. Pet food manufacturers dump corn, wheat, or soy into their food as a cheap protein replacement. However, they actually offer no health benefit to your pet.

Artificial Colors and Preservatives

Many preservatives and dyes used in pet foods have been linked to causing cancer and other serious health problems. Some preservatives such as BHA and BHT are actually banned from use in human products in many countries because of the health risks they pose. Ethoxyquin, another common pet food preservative, is commonly used as a pesticide.

Keep these ingredients in mind when you are shopping for your next batch of dog food or cat food. As in eating for humans, the general rule is the less processed foods you put in your system the healthier you’ll be.

Door Considerations

Deciding which dog doors is best suited for your pup's needs depend on several factors.

• Size of dog
• Safety issues for your dog and home
• Freestyle vs. electric or chip-powered doors
• Confidence in the dog using the door

Whether you decide on flap or panel doggie doors, these several additional factors will allow the right choice to be made in your first dog door purchase. First, measure your dog to ensure you install the proper size door to accommodate its size. The last thing you want is for your pet to become stuck, panic, and possibly injure itself.

Once your pet adjusts to the door and realizes going in and out is a breeze, the dog door will get a daily workout. To ensure the door can stand up to ongoing wear and tear, install a sturdily built door and frame.

Dog Door Material

If you are purchasing a flap door, choose one using material such as heavy duty plastic that will not bend, break, tear or snap. Dog doors need to be equipped with a seal, so heat and cool air do not seep in or out of your home. A seal also helps keep unwanted insects, lizards, and other small creatures outdoors.

Flap vs. Panel

Free-swinging flap doors or electric-powered doggie doors need to provide security to your home, especially if the door accommodates a large breed. A dog door large enough for your canine is also accessible by other domestic animals and wildlife. A locking system to secure the door when it is not to be used adds extra security to your home.

You know your dog best, so keep in mind how inquisitive or skittish your pup may be when deciding which door will best fit its temperament. Both flap-style and panel-style dog doors have good points and depending on your dog’s temperament and willingness to use an alternate door will help you make the best decision. Once installed, use doggie treats to entice your pup to move back and forth through the opening to build confidence and prevent any fear of the new door.

If you’re interested in looking at the different options available to you then check out one of our top selling panel dog doors, the Patio Pacific Thermo Panel IIIE, and one of our best selling flap door dogs, the Endura Pet Door for Walls.

Energy efficient pet doors are easy to find and manage. No matter what size door you require for your furry friend, there's one at PetDoors.com that will meet your needs for efficiency and usability.

What Makes a Door Efficient?

The government has a list of criteria that tell whether or not your door is energy efficient. These requirements include making the fit as tight as possible by using magnetic stripping and core materials inside the door like polyurethane foam and fiberglass. These specifications are just for a wooden door. Glass doors have their own set of specs that indicate energy efficiency such as two panes of specially coated glass that have a non-toxic gas between them for improved insulation.

What to Look for in an Energy Efficient Dog Door

Doggie doors that measure up to Energy Star standards are made to work well with any type of human door and are flexible and safe to accommodate the comings and goings of your pet. They're easily locked down at night or any other time you want to keep your pet in -- and other animals out. Some are as simple to install as simply propping up and locking in place, but others may require professional installation.

When searching for energy efficient dog doors look for one that:

• Insulates with Energy Star qualified double pane glass
• Withstand high winds
• Seals securely against weather conditions
• Functions well in high and low temperatures alike

Once you purchase an energy efficient dog door make sure not to make edits. Once it meets the Energy Star standards any changes could interfere with efficiency.

Our Top Energy Efficient Dog Doors

Here is a list of Pet Doors’ top recommendations for energy efficient dog doors that are Energy Star guaranteed:

• Patio Pacific Endura Flap™ Pet Door for Doors
• Patio Pacific Endura Flap™ Thermo Panel IIIE™
• Thermo-Sash IIIE™ Pet Door for Sash Windows
• Patio Pacific Endura Flap™ Quick Panel III™ Pet Door

Pet safety starts with identifying these potential dangers around your home. During poison prevention awareness month you can take these steps to make your home a safer place for your pets.

1. Store chemicals out of reach

Pets are like toddlers – curious, and always eager to touch and smell anything! They will get into everything – including cabinets close to the ground. Store household cleaners and other dangerous chemicals in a high cabinet or drawer out of your pet's reach. Follow the same procedure with insecticides, antifreeze, and other chemicals in your garage. Pets are attracted to the smells and flavors in many of these chemicals. They are highly lethal once ingested.

2. Avoid using human medicine and food

Dogs and cats are not designed to eat the same food or use the same medicines as people are. Although they might sometimes be convenient if an accident happens, do not give your pets human medicines to treat injuries or sickness. Human medicines can cause internal bleeding or organ failure. The same is true with many human foods. Avoid feeding your pets foods such as chocolate, onions, grapes and raisins. Also keep them away from bones, especially chicken bones, as these can negatively affect a pet’s digestion. These foods can wreak havoc on their digestive system, shut down organs, and be lethal in even small amounts.

3. Eliminate toxic household plants

Plants add a nice touch to your home decor. The problem is they can also be a threat to your pet if they digest leaves from those plants. Common toxic houseplants include

• Amaryllis
• Azalea
• Caladium
• Golden Pothos
• Lilies
• Mistletoe
• Oleander
• Philodendron

Study up on which plants are pet-friendly and buy those to brighten up your home or your outdoor garden.

4. Secure your trash

Garbage cans can contain a hodgepodge of toxic substances mixed together in a lethal stew. Smells of discarded food scraps and other items can draw a pet into the garbage and put them in danger. Secure your trash in closed containers that restrict your pet's access. Also avoid storing your garbage cans near pet doors or other places where your pet can find them easily.

5. Prepare a first-aid kit

Despite your best efforts, your pet may still end up ingesting a toxic substance. Put together a first-aid kit filled with items you can use to treat your pet in an emergency. Keep emergency contact numbers for your veterinarian and the local animal poison control center on hand. Some items you might want to consider adding to your pet first aid kit are: cotton balls and swabs, scissors, sterile gauze, bandages, first aid tape, hydrogen peroxide, antiseptic wipes, muzzle, leash, splint, stypic powder, latex gloves, blanket, copies of vet documents, bottle of water, thermometer, and self-activating hot and cold packs.

If you take these pet safety tips seriously you can be preventing life threatening illnesses and harm to your pet.

There is much more to doggie doors than the traditional plastic flap in the back door. These ten facts about dog doors offer surprising revelations on this staple of pet ownership:

1. Famous scientist Sir Isaac Newton is credited as the inventor of the first pet door. It was actually designed with his cat in mind. Newton referred to his creation as a "cat flap".
2. A common fear for pet owners is that burglars will break into a home by crawling through pet doors. Many pet doors are now designed with security features to prevent such a scenario from occurring. Pet door security is extremely important to pet door manufacturers; they understand the concerns homeowners have and take them into serious consideration when making doors.
3. When your dog is introduced to a doggie door for the first time, they are more likely to use the door when they see you poke your head through it first.
4. An electronic dog door opens when it detects a magnetic sensor in your dog's collar. This feature restricts all other stray animals from entering your house.
5. An electronic dog door creates a tighter seal than a traditional dog door flap when not in use. It helps lower both your heating and air conditioning bills.
6. Glass dog doors can be installed in sliding patio doors. Different types include single pane glass panel, dual pane glass panel, and the special purpose panels.
7. Direct sunlight can cause plastic dog doors to warp and fade over time. For that reason, it is best to install the plastic flap on a side of the house shaded from the sun.
8. Patio doggie doors feature a simple pin lock that you can use to connect your sliding patio door to the pet door.
9. The majority of pet owners will choose to cut a hole in a wall rather than a door.
10. Rounded edges help your dog fit through pet doors easier. Square edges can lead to some bigger dogs getting stuck on the corners.

At Pet Doors we can help you find the ideal pet products to make your pet happier. Purchase a pet door that fits your home and pet perfectly!

Cat Mate and Petsafe offer both manual pet door models as well as automatic pet door models among their extensive product lines. Both brands offer pros and cons with their pet doors.

Cat Mate Cat Doors

Cat Mate offers durable cat doors. Each door is made from hard plastic that stands up through repeated exposure to stormy weather. The doors can be installed in virtually any type of door, including metal doors. They also offer a shielded brush seal that keeps dirt, rain, snow, and insects outside your house.

If you are using a four way locking door or an electronic cat door you get some nice high-tech perks with a Cat Mate door. The four-way locking door features a magnetic closure to seal the door against strong winds. The electronic door works automatically to let your cat in or out by sensing a magnet in a battery-operated collar they wear.

The main drawback to Cat Mate doors is that the collar only unlocks the door when your cat is extremely close. This can create a risk of injury if the sensor malfunctions. Raccoons have also been known to lift up the hard plastic flap from the outside and sneak into a house.

Petsafe Cat Doors

Petsafe offers a reliable and inexpensive design with its cat doors. The doors are made from high impact plastic and support pets as large as 15 pounds. A Petsafe four-way door also features a magnetic closure to seal the flap in high winds or stormy weather and a sliding lock system you can set to in, out, both ways, or locked. The company's automatic pet door offers a user-friendly design and a collar that requires no batteries.

The main problem with Petsafe doors is raccoons can break the plastic flap. With the electronic door, it is not keyed to specific pets so strays have a better chance of coming through it.

As you can see, the main problem with pet doors are the chance encounters with wild animals. No matter how safe you are, there is always the chance of a stray raccoon coming in through the door, but the main conclusion from reviewing both Cat Mate and Petsafe is that they are quality companies that provide top-notch pet doors. You can browse the cat doors that best fit your needs in our cat door selection.

With the New Year comes new responsibilities and new resolutions. Whether you’re thinking about buying or adopting in 2013, or have been a pet owner for decades, incorporating your pet into your own New Years resolutions can be a fun and healthy way of keeping your pets in good shape.

The following is a list of New Years resolutions you can make with your furry four-legged friend(s):

1. Almost everyone promises him or herself they’ll loose weight in the New Year. Why not give your dog the same resolution? Include your dog in a local race, or simply make your bi-daily walks longer!
2. Resolve to floss your own teeth at night while also resolving to brush your dog’s teeth regularly. Incorporating a regular dental regimen can help lengthen your pets life-cycle and prevent serious oral problems, not to mention cure bad puppy breathe!
3. If you don’t want fast food for every meal then don’t feed it to your dog either! Yes, eating healthier is more expensive – for both of you – but it’s worth it to maintain proper health.
4. Proper tagging is an essential responsibility pet owners face. It can be as simple as getting a new not-so-ragged collar, or as extensive as imbedding microchips.
5. No one likes going to the doctor. However, if part of your resolution includes annual or semi-annual check-ups, then do the same for your pet! Annual wellness checks will keep your pet healthy and might even preemptively prevent spending boatloads down the road on medicines if an issue is caught early.
6. Everyone loves being pampered! Going to a professional groomer can make your dog or cat feel like a million bucks.
7. Last but certainly not least – a great resolution to have with your pet is to simply play with them more. Both cats and dogs love being played with. Engaging with your dog and cat is proven to help stimulate their minds and keep their mental health in top shape.

Remember, healthy pets are happy pets! If you incorporate your four-legged friend(s) into your New Years resolution plans, you both will have a good start for making 2013 a terrific year!