Pet products KSL staff members love for healthy, happy furbabies

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From the first moment they enter our lives, they become a part of the family. Sure, they may make a lot of noise in the middle of the night. Yeah, they’re messy. And when they hit the precocious years, you may want to keep them outside. 

But as all pet lovers know, we'd do anything for our four-legged friends. The KSL team loves our pets, too. In fact, we put together a list of the best pet products we rely on to keep our animals healthy, entertained and happy.

1. Quality food

You don’t want to eat food made with subpar ingredients — chicken meal, anyone? Neither does your dog. Kirk Koenen, marketing director at Deseret Digital Media, recommends a food service such as The Farmer’s Dog; it makes and packages fresh meals for your pet. The company uses human-grade food — no kibble or artificial preservatives — and delivers it right to your door. 

2. Healthy treats

Alysha Coleman, project coordinator for Deseret News, treats her pooch with pumpkin from single-serving pouches. “We love these because we could give Ruby one serving and not worry about the rest of a can of pumpkin going bad in the fridge.” Social media manager Yvette Cruz likes feeding her dog single-ingredient treats, too. “One of his favorites is freeze-dried minnows from Vital Essentials,” she said.

3. Chewables

If you walk down the dog products aisle of a store, you’ll likely see rawhide chewable treats. They’re cheap and popular. But DDM senior software engineer Ben Payne says these are a no-go for him. “Sadly, very sadly, this can stay in their digestive system and given enough, it can even kill the dog.” Instead, he recommends Bully Sticks. Payne said not only do they take a while to chew, but they also clean your dog’s teeth.

Kaylee Caplette, DDM creative coordinator, is a fan of the rubber chew toy Kong for her active doggos. You can even fill it with a treat, from kibble to peanut butter. “We love these,” Caplette said. “I like that you can put anything in there, and it’s great for our smaller dog and big dog.”

3. Brain teasers

It’s true, dogs love to gnaw. Joel Dare, DDM director of software engineering, found a clever way to keep his pups away from the slippers: an interactive puzzle. “Probably a side-effect of working from home, but when we leave the house, our dogs sometimes chew things,” Dare said. “If we give them these puzzles, they throw them around instead of our lamps.”

4. Play toys

Playing catch with your dog is an important and fun part of pet care: You work on your throw, and your canine gets some much needed exercise. But picking up that spit-soaked ball? Eww. Coleman prefers the JW Hol-ee Roller. “This was great because we could throw it without our hands getting covered in slobber,” she said. A definite win. There’s a bonus: It’s also a puzzle. You can stuff something inside of it — another small toy or treat — to keep your curious pet entertained for hours.

See dog toy listings on KSL Classifieds →

5. Solid leash

Energetic dogs, particularly large ones, can be hard to handle. Caplette said the no-pull head collar has made daily exercise more pleasant for everyone. “We love this for our Doberman for walks. That way, we are walking him and not him walking us.”

Shop leashes and collars on KSL Classifieds →

6. Waterproof pads

Housebreaking your pet takes a lot of patience and … cleaning up. Karli Davis, a content writer for DDM, said extra large, waterproof dog pads are her go-to item as she trains her newly welcomed pup. They’re perfect for protecting your carpet, furniture and car seat. You can even use them under your pet’s water bowl if they are less than neat while slurping.

7. Kitty litter

Three out of three cats agree, unscented cat litter is the way to go. “I’ve tried many litters with my three cats, and this is the one we always come back to,” said DDM business analyst Kyle Johnson. “Our cats are picky and love this. The odor control is amazing.” Sounds like a win, win, win.

Find litter boxes on KSL Classifieds →

8. Comforts

Fun cat products can keep your feline happily purring all day. Take the hammock, for example, the recommendation of Utah Business assistant editor Beth Taylor. “My cat adores her window hammock!” Other essentials such as a scratching post and a cat tree will also help you feline stay busy and stress free, no beach required.

Search scratching trees on KSL Classifieds →

9. Food bowls

Another way to keep your cat comfortable is to use a raised food bowl. A taller bowl, or one placed on a stand, allows your cat to eat in a natural standing position. Susan Hayward, Utah.com product manager, bought one for her cat. “He is throwing up a lot less now,” she said. Even cats benefit from good posture.

Find pet food bowls on KSL Classifieds →

10. Probiotics

The term delicate constitution applies to more than 18th-century rich ladies. If your pet could use some help with its digestive system, try Cruz’ idea: Fidobiotics Good Guts. “I’ve got a sensitive-stomach doodle, so giving him a daily probiotic has really helped.” It may also help reduce gas and bloating. And that benefits everyone in the family.

Check out KSL Classifieds for great deals on pet equipment and supplies, from carriers to clothes. Ready to add another pet to your family? We have those, too. Find listings for dogs, cats and a whole brood of other animals.

Search all pet equipment and supplies on KSL Classifieds →

KSL.com participates in affiliate marketing programs, which means that as an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases. These links help support our website without any additional cost to you.