Cook Up Poultry Giblets for PetsWhen cooking a full chicken, hen, or turkey, remove the insides and save. Later when you have time, boil and save in fridge as a treat for your pet. Not too many people eat the heart, liver, and kidneys anyway, but your pets will.
Coffee Filters As Pet Dish LinersI just got my cat, Cornelius back from a three month stay with a friend. She took such good care of him that he is half the cat I knew! He was 25 pounds so now he is 12!
Recycled Pet Feeding SystemI got tired of stepping on cat food and water. This idea came to me when the bag I had this old bread keeper in fell apart.
Tips for Changing Your Pet's FoodThere may be a time when you will need to transition your dog or cat to a new food. This process is fairly easy, but does require a bit more than buying the new food and simply serving it to your pet.
Open Dog Food Containers More EasilyMy fingers don't work as good as they once did so I find ways to help with opening things. If you are feeding your dogs these little packages with aluminum lids, then just roll the pencil around the aluminum and you have leverage.
Help Pets Beat the Heat with Frozen TreatsFreeze pet treats in broth to give a nice cooling refreshment. Add whatever your pet likes. I have added drained spring water from tuna, and beef or veggie broth from the slow cooker.
Calcium Supplement for DogsDry egg shells in the oven at 250 F for 30 minutes. Crush the shells and add to your dog's food. You can also use them to feed birds as well.
Buy Dog Food at Feed StoreOne of my dogs has an allergy to corn grain. For many years I thought she was just really itchy from fleas. I would comb her every night, sprayed the yard, and had her on Frontline Plus, and she still chewed on herself and had an awful coat.
Save Plastic Lids for Canned Pet FoodMost national and store brand bean dip lids have the same diameter. So if your family eats this treat on a Friday night, or your neighbor has it at a block party, be sure to save those lids.
Use Ice Cream Tubs For Pet FoodI use the large plastic tub that ice cream would come in for pet food. It has a handle, and you get to enjoy eating the ice cream before using it for storage. I made it fun with the kids. They decorate the tubs with dogs or cats.
Storing Pet FoodI have a variety of pets and needed ideas to keep the food clean and out of the way. For the dogs and cats, I use a big Rubbermaid box with a tight fitting lid. It holds a big bag of food and keeps pests out.
Garbage Can for Storing Pet FoodI use a new stainless garbage can. Since he has his own corner with elevated bowls, I keep the can right next to them with a scoop inside. It matches my kitchen and keeps his food fresh.
Storing Pet FoodI save all the cat litter buckets to store my dog and cat food. The flip up lid makes it convenient to get the food and they seal well to keep out ants. The handle comes in handy too.
Keeping Pet Food Away From MiceWe have always used dry pet food for our dogs, but find that mice like feasting on it as well. To avoid the mice and keep the food from getting stale we store it in a plastic garbage can with a snug lid.
Keep Dog Food In Gallon BagsWhen I buy a big bag of food, I separate it into 1 gallon zip type bags and keep them in a tub. It's easier for me to carry one of these bags to fill bowls as I feed inside and outside. Treats are kept in a mason type jar.
Plastic Tubs For Pet FoodThe plastic containers meant for pet food were too small for my use, and they are over priced. I bought a large (one that holds 35 -50 lbs. dog food) plastic tub with a snap on cover years ago, and this has worked for me quite well.
Storing Pet Food By ServingsI am a foster parent for my local no-kill animal shelter. I usually have about 10 cats and the occasional dog in my care. I buy dry kibble pet food in bulk. I divide it into one day servings and store it in the zip lock freezer bags.
Storing Large Bags of Dry Dog FoodWe buy large bags of dry dog food. Ants would get in it and sometimes mice would, too. My husband bought a large trash can with a tight fitting lid and we keep it on the carport next to the feeding area for the dogs.
Reuse Kitty Litter BucketsWe buy kitty litter that comes in buckets with handles. After using the kitty litter, wash out the resealable bucket and store pet food in bucket. Make sure the bucket is dry before putting the pet food in. Store in a cool place.
Keeping Dog Food FreshI bought a 5 gallon bucket with a screw-on lid from a local feed supply store. I can put a large bag of dog food in it. We have had racoons come in the dog door and get into dog food bags. This keeps the little devils out.
Popcorn Tins for Pet FoodI use large popcorn tins I receive at Christmas to store my large bag of dog food. They keep the food fresh and away from unwanted critters.
Feed Pumpkin To Your DogsIf your dog becomes constipated, give it some pureed pumpkin. It is mild and will clear the problem up after a couple of feedings.
Use Tuna Water to Tempt Senior Cat to Eat Dry FoodAs he gets older, my 15 year old kitty Taz (named after the Tasmanian Devil because that's what we thought he was when he was little. Boy was he wild!), is becoming very finicky with his dry cat food and he doesn't like the senior food at all.
Never Feed Pets More Than They Can Eat At OnceI live with two independent black female cats. They are jealous siblings and each demands my undivided attention! I give each cat her own small dish of wet food. Never give your cat or dog more than they can eat at one sitting!
Pet Food AdditionsSave that juice from canned meats (such as tuna) and pour it over your pet's dry food, they will love you forever. I save it in the refrigerator and only add a tablespoon at a time. Once in a great while, I "accidentally" drop some of the meat in the juice.
Grease Pet Dish with Olive Oil for Easy CleaningWhen I clean my pets' food and water bowls, after they dry, I lightly grease the inside of them with olive oil to make them easier to clean next time. This keeps food from sticking and the olive oil is good for their coat.
Prevent Pet Food From Sticking to the BowlIf you rub a small amount of sunflower oil around the inside of your pet bowls before feeding, the food won't stick to the bowl making clean up easier. Plus the oil is good for their coats and can help with hairball in cats.
Use Plastic Coffee Can Lids for Pet DishesI have started using the plastic tops from coffee cans for pet dishes. The animals love them because their food is very accessible, and I like them because they are very easy to wash.
Washable Place Mats for Dog DishesI keep a poly/cotton washable place mat under my dogs bowl to keep the floor clean where she eats and drinks.
Use Hot Dogs for Cat TreatsWhen cookout season is over you most likely will find condiments and hot dogs marked down so it is definitely time to stock up! My cat (Omen) LOVES me to slice her a hot dog into her dish for a snack ! The cost of kitty treats is near $3 for a small pouch vs. a pack of hot dogs for 79 cents!
Freeze Soup Bones For Your DogI buy my dog soup marrow bones at the grocery store. They should be large enough so you dog won't choke on them. Also, they should not have small pieces they can break off (also a choking hazard).
Frugal Tips For Buying Pet Food and Feeding PetsIf you buy your dog high quality food, this will save you money in the long run as many pet health problems are related to poor nutrition due to low-quality food.
Keeping the Floor Clean When Pets are EatingWhen feeding pets canned food indoors, try this to make it much less messy. Place their bowl or dish on a large piece of newspaper. If the dish is against a wall, angle the newspaper so it extends a little way up the wall instead of laying flat on the floor.
Saving Money on Pet FoodCommercial canned dog food has a lot of fillers in it and that can sometimes cause problems with dogs and their "poop". I used to buy the generic or "retailer's own" brand of canned dog food until my Border Collie had puppies.
Pupsicles For DogsI do this a lot in the summer time. It's for the k9s in the family. I'll put some Kibbles and Bits in a ice cube tray then fill with chicken broth, I cover this with Saran wrap, stick some rawhide sticks in the middle, and let freeze.
Crunchy Cat TreatsCrunchy treats for your cat.
Fishy Treats for KittyFishy treats for your furry little friend.
Saving Broth for Dog FoodI have 2 nice, healthy, middle-aged best friends who usually are fed dry dog food, with a little something extra. Whenever I cook, I save bones from meat, extra broth, etc. and simmer it on the stove for a nice flavorful broth to pour over the dogs' dry dog food.
