If Fido commands one of the top spots on your Christmas list, you are not alone. According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association’s 2007-2008 survey, 56 percent of owners buy Christmas gifts for their dogs. This year, consider forgoing the squeaky Santas and rawhide candy canes in favor of gifts that enhance the health of your canine companion all year.

The winner of a 2008 DOGFANCY Editors’ Choice Award, the Contech DrinkBetter water bowl uses a floating obstacle to encourage dogs to drink at a slower, healthier rate—reducing the likelihood of digestive problems like indigestion and vomiting. The BPA-free DrinkBetter bowl also helps to reduce muzzle staining and the annoying spills left by messy drinkers.

The DrinkBetter’s companion—the EatBetter bowl—uses a contoured, wishbone-shaped partition to slow speedy eaters. Many dogs instinctively eat too fast; a habit that can contribute to digestive problems such as overeating, indigestion, vomiting and even GDV (gastric dilatation-volvulus) or “bloat”—the condition that claimed the now-famous Marley of movie and book fame (Marley & Me).

To keep your pooch hydrated when the weather turns warm, consider a Contech WaterDog automatic outdoor pet drinking fountain. The WaterDog lets your dog help itself to fresh water, so you don't have to worry about stagnant or empty water bowls. The WaterDog automatically dispenses a cool, clean stream of fresh drinking water when your pet comes within three feet, and turns it off when your pet leaves.

Finally, if your dog misses you when you are away, a ChatterBowl may help to ease the stress. The ChatterBowl records your voice and plays it back when your pet approaches. The bowl is made from high-quality, food-grade plastic and can be used as a food or water dish.

Contech is a designer and provider of animal control and wellness products and non-toxic pest management products for home and garden, forestry, landscape, agriculture, and commercial applications. Safe and effective solutions such as the WaterDog automatic pet drinking fountain continue to reinforce the company’s reputation as a leading innovator in the pet and garden industries.