Whiskers Holistic Petcare

Whiskers in Manhattan (9th street and 2nd ave.)

What makes "Whiskers" my favorite pet store in NYC?

It's very simple. If you have a question about your dog or cat, walk inside and ask one of their super-knowledgeable experts in the back. You get answers. Always.

They take the time to explain and send you in the right direction with pet care.

Last weekend, I hung around the back and listened to Phil field questions. He handled diarrhea problems, doggy bad breath, a dog vomiting their raw food diet, liver disease questions, ferret questions, and more.

They are also kind and considerate. Phil didn't make me feel like a total loser for feeding my cats a questionable brand.

Ideally, a raw food diet is best. However, the Whiskers geniuses will work with you to upgrade your pet's diet, even if you are unable or unwilling to be "completely ideal".

Myself? I didn't go raw food on my cats but have switched to a much better cat food, have added vitamins to their diet, and have started brushing their teeth. I'll consider raw food for a while longer.

Phil is the guru of animal care. I have never seen him fazed by any pet question.

Joe...another crazy animal expert.

"This Guy Doesn't Share": Part 1

Ryan samples some chicken wings at LIC Bar while Dailo drools and hopes

To share your (human) food or not to share: that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the pathetic faces and looks of complete starvation, Or to give in to a sea of doe eyes and by feeding them, satiate them (until the next meal)?

Okay! We all know what this is about: your dog begs. He/she looks so hungry and needy that it is difficult not to share your food with them. It is also such a pleasure to see the ones you love gobble up food in such a manner that you know they are in ecstasy.

Let's review the pros and cons of sharing your food with your canine companion:

Pros:

• It's fun and satisfying to see your dog enjoy food
• Your dog is very, very close to you when you eat

Cons:

• Human food is often unhealthy for dogs
• Sudden changes in a dog's diet can mean very messy poop (which is embarrassing in the city)
• Your dog will relentlessly beg at all mealtimes
• Your dog is very, very close to you when you eat

There is nothing wrong with feeding your dog while you eat. You just have to be willing to accept the fact that they will always beg.

I, personally, don't like my dogs begging, so I don't give them a crumb...ever.

Before you go and think I am heartless, I point to the fact my dogs eat better than most humans. I cook chicken, turkey, and rice, and provide raw vegetables to supplement their commercial kibble/dogfood.

Commercial dogfood is varied and full of great choices. A dogowner certainly doesn't have to feed their dog anything but dogfood given the choices now available.

Some examples of high quality commercial dog food:

Solid Gold, Merrick, California Natural, Abady, Eagle Pack, Avoderm, Orijen, Innova.

This is a short list of foods I have personally used. It is incomplete.

For a future blog entry, I will visit Whiskers in Manhattan and have the dog food experts give us a tutorial. Whiskers is the best petfood store I have ever seen and the staff is super-knowledgable.

One bit of advice: if you exclusively use commercial food-switch brands about once per year. Each brand has some ingredients the others don't. Going from one great food to another is more likely to cover your dog's nutritional needs rather than feeding them the same brand their entire life.

Dailo likes apples and pears, but "this guy still doesn't share."