Natural foods for your dog. This may not be something that immediately comes to mind when thinking about your dog’s diet. You probably eat more organic and unprocessed food yourself – and you know how crucial good and natural food is to your overall health. People who switch to organic foods notice a boost in their energy levels. Their skin condition improves, their resistance improves, they have fewer colds and they recover faster from illnesses. The health benefits of natural and organic food appear to have long-term beneficial effects.

Now that eating organic, natural food has proven its positive effects on humans, you increasingly hear the question of whether this also works for dogs. Natural foods help your dog to live a healthier and happier life. As puppy parents, we want nothing more of course. But the higher price you pay for your dog’s natural foods is worth it. Does it improve the health of your dog – does he get sick less quickly and often, does his resistance increase, does it improve the condition of his skin and coat, does he have more energy? With the following benefits of natural foods for your dog, it is certainly worthwhile to switch to an organic and natural diet for your four-legged friend.

What is the natural food for your dog?

It is natural to want the absolute best for your puppy, so you may want to consider switching to natural foods for your dog. Doing research is important to understand the benefits of natural food for dogs. Besides, that healthy dog ​​food contains the right ingredients, it is just as important how these are obtained. If dog food contains ingredients that have been obtained in a responsible manner, this will always be stated on the packaging. This can be in the list of ingredients or by means of a quality mark.

By feeding your rascal natural dog food, you contribute to the overall health of your dog. Because organic food contains high-quality nutrients, they contribute to the health, energy level, coat and skin condition, clear eyes, better stool, and the happiness of your dog. Feeding your dog high-quality food will help him feel healthy and happy. This also contributes to your bond – so you can spend more time together. Go out together for a nice walk and experience new adventures. It will significantly increase your happiness in life and decrease the number of visits to the vet!

Reduction of skin conditions and allergies.

If your dog has allergies or a nasty skin condition, you’ve probably tried “everything” in hopes of getting some relief from your dog. You probably think if medicines or creams that your vet has prescribed do not help, why natural food does? Natural food can give your dog the best long-term chance to fight off skin infections and allergies. It is free of artificial color and flavor enhancers, chemical additives, and toxic pesticides that can be the source of allergies for your dog. Organic dog food contains high-quality proteins and grain sources of exceptional nutritional value. This supports your rascal’s immune system to help build resistance to skin infections.

 Less digestive disorders.

High-quality nutrients from grains and proteins and free from chemicals and artificial substances make natural dog foods more digestible. If your dog occasionally vomits after his meal or has frequent bloating or diarrhea, check with your vet to make sure he doesn’t have an underlying illness. Switching to organic, natural food will make your rascal feel better and you will certainly notice the difference. It is the high nutritional value of organic dog food that makes a difference. Since it is naturally more nutritious, a smaller portion will suffice your rascal. Natural dog foods do not contain “fillers” which use cheaper, commercial varieties.

More flavor

In addition, your rascal will certainly prefer natural nutrition in terms of taste. Because there are no “fillers” in this but pure, healthy ingredients, they taste much better. Your rascal will feel more satisfied by eating smaller portions. An organic diet can help your dog lose weight and get more exercise. Easily digestible oats, barley, or other natural whole grains and high-quality turkey, lamb, or chicken make a huge difference to your dog’s digestive system. Instead of consuming corn or other cheap “belly fillers” and chemical additives, your puppy will only absorb what he needs for a healthy metabolism. Your four-legged friend eats and eliminates less when on a natural diet. This will also allow him to have a predictable bowel movement with the firm,

Better overall health and stronger immunity.

Even if your dog does not suffer from skin conditions, obesity, or digestive problems, natural dog food can still be beneficial. While almost every brand of dog food claims to be “nutritionally complete,” most vets still recommend “premium” brands of dog food over major commercial brands. This is because the premium brands that offer organic food have better nutritional value. Natural dog food provides nutrients of a higher quality than even the non-organic, premium brands. The food is more digestible for your dog. Because it is more digestible, your dog easily absorbs rather than eliminating the nutrients it needs. This way he maintains a healthy immune system.

Quality of life and longevity.

Just as the quality of your food affects the quality of your life, it also directly affects how your dog looks, feels, and behaves. By feeding your rascal natural food you contribute to a long, happy, and healthy life for your rascal. Feeding a natural, high-quality diet is one part of an overall healthy lifestyle for your dog. A luxurious, shiny coat, energy to run and play, a healthy weight, and a strong immune system can maximize your dog’s life expectancy and quality of life into old age.

 Soopa – for healthy, happy dogs

Soopa has a line of super healthy dog ​​snacks. They are convinced that if you make small changes in your dog’s diet – you are making a big difference in your scamp’s overall health. Soopa products are 100% natural, contain superfood ingredients, and are produced under human-grade standards. The snacks are simple, nutritious, and above all tasty!

Soopa’s snacks are available in different sizes. They have training sweets in their range, but also super healthy dental sticks. Each flavor within the range has its own health benefits for your rascal.

Cook yourself – Cookbook Feed me

Do you want to make sure your rascal only gets the best of the best? And do you want to have an overview of the ingredients that are in natural food? Then cook yourself! This way you are guaranteed that everything is fresh and that you only use the ingredients that he likes and is good for him. Now I hear you think; ok nice cooking yourself, but how? There are many good and healthy cookbooks for this. One of these cookbooks and our personal favorite is “Feed Me”. This cookbook contains 50 easy recipes to cook the most healthy and sustainable meal for your pup. Everything is explained step by step. And you can also bulk boil the food to freeze it. This way you have fresh, natural food for your rascal for a longer period of time.

If you want to learn how to groom your dog at home, you need to know the basics, such as how to cut a dog’s nails. I’ll show you exactly what you need to do and how to do it safely so that know one gets hurt.

Cutting a dog’s fingernails might sound scary but there’s nothing about it that’s difficult. You just have to be careful and know what you’re doing .

You should start off by collecting all of the supplies for this task. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Nail Trimmer
• Scissors
• Styptic Powder (optional)

Now that you’ve got your stuff together, it’s time to get started.

Step 1: Make Your Dog Comfortable

First, make sure your dog is relaxed and comfortable around you. Do this by giving him a treat or two before starting. If possible, start this process after they’ve eaten their meal to help them feel extra sleepy and calm! For anxious dogs, you can even try CBD Oil for Dogs.

Step 2: Prepare The Paw

Second, lift one of your dogs paws into your hand and press gently on the pad of the paw while looking at the tip of each nail. You’ll be able to see where your dog’s skin is and if you cut it, he will bleed and it may hurt him.

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That’s why we use a nail cutter, so we don’t have to worry about hurting our dog when trimming their nails.

Step Three: Secure The Paw

Third, you can feel free to push down on the pad of their paw if it’s more comfortable for you. If your dog is wiggly when you’re trying to hold his paw, you can try this instead!

Step 4: Apply The Cut

Fourth, once you’ve identified where the quick ends in each nail, go ahead and cut just past that point. You’ll only want to cut into the pinkish area on the end of his nail, not into the black part. If you do accidentally cut into this black section, use an absorbent cotton ball to stop the bleeding. After it stops, apply some styptic powder to help the blood clot faster and prevent infection in your dog’s paw. You can then apply some CBD for Pets to promote healing as well.

Step 5: Repeat on All Nails

Fifth, keep trimming until all their nails are the same length.

Step by Step Instructions for Trimming Dog Nails

1. Pet your dog and make sure they’re comfortable with you
2. With one paw in each hand, feel for the end of each nail to know where to cut
3. Cut just past this point (only into the pinkish area)
4. Keep cutting until all of the nails are the same length
5. If you accidentally cut into the black part, apply some styptic powder to stop the bleeding

Now that you’ve learned how to cut your dog’s nails, you can feel confident doing it at home! If this process continues to be too stressful for either of you, then why not try bringing them to a groomer?

If you want more information on how to do this and other dog grooming basics, check out the video linked below:

Whether or not dogs dream isn’t known with scientific certainty, but it sure is difficult to imagine that they don’t. We’ve all watched our dogs demonstrate behaviours in their sleep that resemble what they do in a fully awake state. Paddling legs, whining, growling, wagging tails, chewing jowls, and twitching noses inspire us to wonder what our dogs are dreaming about.

What we know about dogs and dreams

While our knowledge on this topic is very limited, the following known information helps us believe that dogs do indeed experience dreams. According to MIT News, Matthew Wilson, a professor of neuroscience at MIT, and Kenway Louie, a graduate student in 2001,  have studied the relationships between memory, sleep and dreams. They found that when rats were trained to run along a circular track for food rewards, their brains created a distinctive firing pattern of neurons (brain cells). The researchers repeated the brain monitoring while the rats were sleeping. Low and behold, they observed the same signature brain activity pattern associated with running whether the rats were awake or asleep. In fact, the memories played at approximately the same speed during sleep as when the rats were awake.

Can we apply this to dogs?

Can we take what is known about dreaming in rats and humans and apply the information to dogs? Wilson believes that we can.”My guess is — unless there is something special about rats and humans — that cats and dogs are doing exactly the same thing,” he said, according to USA Today’s website.

It is known that the hippocampus, the portion of the brain that collects and stores memories, is wired much the same way in all mammals. According to healthday.com, Professor Wilson says, “If you compared a hippocampus in a rat to a dog; in a cat to a human, they contain all of the same pieces.” He believes that as dogs sleep, images of past events replay in their minds, much the same way people recall experiences while dreaming.

In people, it is known that most dreams occur during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, according to the National Institutes of Health. Dogs also experience periods of REM sleep. Psychology Today’s website says that during REM their breathing becomes more irregular and shallow. There may be muscle twitching during REM and, when one looks closely, rapid eye movements behind closed eyelids can often be observed. It is during REM sleep that behaviours thought to be associated with dreaming (legs paddling, twitching, vocalizing, etc.) are most commonly observed.

What we want to believe about dog dreams

When we observe our dogs as they sleep, it’s just about impossible to imagine that they are not dreaming. Just like the rats studied by Wilson and Louie, it is tempting to believe that our four-legged best buddies are reenacting their recent experiences; playing at the dog park, sniffing in the woods, chewing on a treasured bone, and chasing squirrels.

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The National Institutes of Health says that Sigmund Freud theorized that dreaming was a “safety valve” for our unconscious desires. Perhaps he is correct, and, when our dogs sleep, they dream about catching the neighbour’s pesky cat, continuous belly rubs in conjunction with unlimited dog treats, and stealing the Thanksgiving turkey from the dining room table.

If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian — they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.

Did you know that some authorities feel that 1 out of every 100 dogs that reach 12 years of age develops diabetes mellitus?

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a hormonal problem where the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin, the hormone that helps push sugar (“glucose”) into the body’s cells. Without the insulin, the body’s cells are starving for sugar; unfortunately, this then stimulates the body to produce more and more sugar (in an attempt to feed the cells). That’s why your dog’s blood sugar is so high (what we call a “hyperglycemia”) with diabetes mellitus.

Without insulin, the sugar can’t get into the cells; hence, why you need to give insulin to your dog with a tiny syringe twice a day. In dogs, this is a disease that can be costly to treat and requires twice-a-day insulin along with frequent veterinary visits for the rest of your dog’s life.

So how do you know if your dog has diabetes? Clinical signs of diabetes mellitus in dogs include:

• Excessive drinking
• Excessive urination
• Urinary accidents in the house
• Dilute urine
• Overweight or obese
• Muscle wasting
• Ravenous appetite
• Frequent urinary tract infections
• Weakness
• Unkempt or poor hair coat
• Blindness secondary to cataracts
• Neuropathies (nerve problems)

As your dog gets older, it’s worth talking to your veterinarian about doing routine blood work to make sure your dog is healthy. This blood work will help rule out kidney and liver problems, anaemia, infections, electrolyte problems and diabetes mellitus. The sooner you recognize the clinical signs, the sooner your dog can be treated with insulin and the fewer complications we see as a result.

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So, if you notice any of the signs above, get to a veterinarian right away. Now, continue on for 5 important reasons to test your dog for diabetes:

1. Your dog will live longer

Diabetes mellitus can shorten the lifespan of your dog, as secondary complications and infections can occur. With diabetes, the body is immunosuppressed and more likely to develop diabetic complications which cause long term harm to your dog.

2. Your dog will be able to see

Did you know that the majority of dogs with diabetes eventually go blind from cataracts? Even in well-controlled diabetic dogs, the excess sugar in the body can have secondary effects on the lens of the eye; it causes more water to influx into the lens, which disrupts the clearness of the lens. As a result, cataract formation occurs, resulting in eventual blindness and secondary inflammation in both eyes. While cataract surgery can (and ideally, should) be performed, it can be costly.

3. You’ll save a lot of money

Treatment for diabetes mellitus includes twice-a-day insulin treatment, insulin syringes, prescription diets, and frequent veterinary trips for blood tests. Also, as diabetic dogs can’t go without their insulin, it may mean hiring house sitters or pet sitters to treat your pet while you are on vacation.

4. You’ll have fewer urinary accidents in the house

One of the biggest signs of uncontrolled diabetes mellitus is excessive drinking, urination and having urinary accidents in the house. Because of hyperglycemia, dogs are also at increased risk for urinary tract infections, wreaking havoc on your carpet. The sooner you can treat your dog with insulin and get diabetes controlled or regulated, the less your dog will drink and urinate, making your dog more comfortable too!

5. You’ll have more peace knowing that your dog is healthy

As a veterinarian and dog owner, I want to make sure my dog is as healthy as possible. You might already be talking with your veterinarian about vaccines each year in a dog that is older than 7 years of age; next, talk to your veterinarian about doing an annual exam and routine blood work too. It’ll pick up on medical problems sooner, so you can rest assured that your dog is going to live a longer, happier, healthier life!

Having a diabetic pet is also a big commitment, as it requires dedicated pet parents who can give twice-a-day injections of insulin. Caring for a diabetic dog does require frequent trips to the veterinarian to regulate blood sugar. That said, dogs can live with diabetes for years with appropriate care and treatment. When in doubt, make sure to monitor your dog carefully for the signs of diabetes, and seek veterinary attention sooner rather than later to help test for this ever-growing problem!

The post 6 Natural Foods for Your Dog appeared first on The Petster.

TREATS DURING TRAINING can be very helpful. But if the dog only does something when you have a reward in hand, it is far from being a well-trained dog. Today we will tell you how to use them in training and what you should pay attention to.

We all know these dogs who are so fond of treats that they can be very aggressive or just give you attention when you are holding something tasty in hand. To prevent your dog from only listening to you when a reward awaits.

What motivates your dog?

Even though threats are widespread in treats during training and most of the time sound like the easiest way to reward your dog, perhaps there are other types of rewards that your dog will find much better.

Good and successful dog training is based on the dog having fun with the activity and doing it with enthusiasm. Only with a motivated dog can the desired success be achieved. Also, not all dogs automatically just look for treats. Depending on the breed and character of your dog, there are ways to reward him much more effectively, with something that he likes and that motivates him to do his best.

Alternatives to dog treats

First of all, you need to find out what your dog likes the most. Very active dogs can be inspired, for example, by a little game or a little common foraging. Other dogs like it when they are petted or when they receive verbal praise. This way, you won’t have to add every time your dog does something nice. Many dogs find it much more motivating to make their owners happy and proud or to be rewarded with attention. That is why you should find out what your dog likes the most. Make a list of it and how important the individual points are to your dog.

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Dogs are always eager to make life as good and harmonious as possible for themselves. Therefore, your decisions are always based on the question: “What advantage do I get from this?” This can be food, of course, but for creatures as sociable as our four-legged friends, interaction with their humans is also extremely important.

Is a treat really that exciting?

It is precisely this question of the advantage for the dog that sometimes makes training difficult. Treats are often not a compelling argument to listen to when other stimuli are waiting for the dog. These can be other dogs, wild animals, or other stimuli. If then you have a dog that is only by your side for food, even with continuous training, you will lose, and the dog will not pay attention to you. Because the other attraction is stronger at the moment and seems more valuable to the dog.

When does it make sense to work with candy?

Often at first, if you have a new puppy or dog, the relationship with the four-legged friend is easier to build if you have treats on hand. Instinctively, the dog is motivated by the little bites to get involved with the new person. So if you start with at the beginning it is not a bad thing. However, you should also play with your dog without the use of, so that you can get to know each other better and build a foundation of trust.

When should you stop giving your dog treats?

When you see that your dog is constantly looking at your hand or even pushing it because it wants something to eat, you should think about how to get your dog’s attention back. Even if your dog shows some form of food aggression by ripping treats from your hand, it’s time to do something.

There are dogs that are pampered and receive rewards just because they have a cute look or because they are present. Dogs quickly realize what tricks they get from their owners what they want. Some of these little rituals between the human and the dog are important to the relationship, others can turn into really serious behaviors.

Certain behaviors that you initially trained with treats to relate to maybe rewarded differently once the command is internalized. In this way, it will no longer be necessary to reward with food every time the dog has executed the command correctly. You can also choose other types of rewards, such as a game or verbal praise.

Every few weeks, my exotic pet hospital in New York receives a call from a desperate exotic pet owner somewhere far away seeking advice about their sick pet. Sometimes it’s about a reptile, sometimes about a bird or bunny. The caller might be from the Midwest, Canada, or even from another continent. Unfortunately, in most cases, there is little we can recommend over the phone, and we generally advise pet-owner to take their animals to an exotic pet-savvy veterinarian to be examined. While there are several great resources online directing people to terrific local vets who are comfortable treating exotic species, for some people in certain remote locations, exotic pet veterinarians can be hard to find. What are the most important things to look for when you are seeking out care for an exotic pet vet? Here are 5 essential considerations:

1. How many (snakes, birds, ferrets, rabbits, whatever species) has this vet ever treated?

While the practice may not always make perfect, it certainly makes better. The more of any given species a veterinarian sees, the more likely that he or she is to recognize the disease and be able to recommend the appropriate treatment. Most vets receive little to no training in school on exotic animal species, so if they really want to learn about how to care for these animals, they have to seek out information on their own. These vets who take the initiative to go the extra mile to learn about exotic pets are the vets you’d want to see.

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2. Is the veterinary hospital set up to accommodate exotic pets?

While many cat and dog hospitals will see exotic pets, they often do so because they are the only game in town. Many cat and dog hospitals will only treat an exotic pet when no one else will, and the pet is really sick. You can really tell whether a veterinary hospital is set up to treat exotic pets if they have some of the basic equipment and supplies needed to do so, such as a small scale that weighs in grams for weighing little exotic pets or a tank for safely enclosing a reptile. If they have no equipment specifically designed for treating and examining typically smaller exotic patients, it is likely they don’t treat many of them.

3. Are the veterinary technicians comfortable handling exotic patients?

Knowing how to safely handle exotic pets is truly an art that takes years to master. Most exotic animals are prey species that become stressed when restrained. No matter how good a veterinarian may be at the medical care of exotic species, without great technical staff to comfortably hold these animals, that vet cannot perform great medical care. By just watching how veterinary technicians restrain and manipulate your exotic pet, you can get an idea about how often they actually handle exotic pets. Technicians and veterinarians trained in exotic pet restraint should be relaxed and have a plan on how to pick up and hold your pet. If they are floundering around trying to figure out how to catch your pet, their experience is very likely limited.

4. Are the veterinarians and/or the veterinary staff members of any exotic pet professional organizations?

There are several professional exotic animal groups, such as the Association of Avian Veterinarians, the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians, and the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians, to which many veterinarians who are interested in exotic pet care belong. These organizations provide continuing education to veterinary professionals, and typically, individuals who want to remain knowledgeable in exotic pet care will join one or more of these groups to stay current. Veterinarians who belong to these groups typically display the organization’s logo on a decal in their hospitals’ window or printed on their hospitals’ client literature. Each of these organizations have websites, too, that list current members geographically. If a vet has taken the time and money to join any of these organizations, then he or she at least has a strong interest in exotic pets.

5. Does the veterinary hospital provide care for exotic pet emergencies?

This is something most exotic pet owners don’t think about until they are faced with their own pets’ emergency. While a few animal hospitals have veterinarians on call and technicians who remain in the hospital overnight to care for critical cases, the most veterinary hospitals are not open 24/7 but have arrangements with local 24-hour emergency clinics to care for their patients overnight and on emergency basis. However, while local emergency clinics are generally happy to take in dog and cat emergencies, they are not always equipped to handle exotic pet emergencies. When choosing an animal hospital to care for your unique exotic pet, be sure to ask the veterinary staff exactly how they handle exotic pet patients with emergencies after hours. If they have no contingency plan, they likely treat very few exotics. Just as your dog and cat vet should have a plan for after-hours emergencies, so should your exotic pet vet. This is perhaps the most important question to consider when choosing a doctor for your beloved pet. Don’t be afraid to ask it. The answer could be the difference between life and death.

When it comes to caring for your cat, I have a few simple recommendations:

• Maintain a safe environment (keep him indoors)
• Feed a high-quality food (e.g., a meat-based protein)
• Think about preventive care (e.g., an annual physical examination, laboratory tests, and the appropriate vaccines)
• Provide lots of affection and exercise

By following these basic tips, you can help keep your four-legged, feline friends healthy–potentially for decades! But as cat guardians, you should also be aware of five “silent” killers in cats. By knowing what the most common silent killers are, you can know what clinical signs to look for. With most of these diseases, the sooner the clinical signs are recognized, the sooner we veterinarians can treat them.

1. Chronic kidney disease

One of the top silent killers of cats is chronic kidney disease (CKD) (This is sometimes called a chronic renal failure or chronic kidney injury). These terms are all semantically the same, and basically mean that 75% of both the kidneys are ineffective and not working. Clinical signs of CRD include:

• Excessive drinking
• Excessive urinating
• Larger clumps in the litter box
• Weight loss
• Bad breath (due to toxins building up in the blood and causing ulcers in the mouth, oesophagus, and stomach)
• Lethargy
• Hiding

Thankfully, with appropriate management, cats can live with CKD for years (unlike dogs where CKD usually progresses more rapidly). Chronic management may include a low-protein diet, frequent blood work, increasing water intake (e.g., with a water fountain or by feeding a gruelling canned food), medications and even fluids under the skin (which many pet guardians do at home, once properly trained).

2. Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is an endocrine disease where the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone. This is seen in middle-aged to geriatric cats and can result in very similar clinical signs to chronic kidney disease including:

• Excessive thirst
• Increased water consumption/urination
• Vomiting/diarrhoea
• Weight loss

However, as hyperthyroidism increases the metabolism of cats, it causes one defining sign: a ravenous appetite despite weight loss. It can also result in:

• A racing heart rate
• Severe hypertension (resulting in acute blood loss, neurologic signs, or even a clot or stroke)
• Secondary organ injury (e.g., a heart murmur or changes to the kidney)

Thankfully, treatment for hyperthyroidism is very effective and includes either a medication (called methimazole, surgical removal of the thyroid glands (less commonly done), a special prescription diet called y/d® Feline Thyroid Health) or I131 radioiodine therapy. With hyperthyroidism, the sooner you treat it, the fewer potential side effects or organ damage will occur in your cat.

3. Diabetes mellitus

Another costly, silent killer that affects cats is diabetes mellitus (DM). As many of our cats are often overweight to obese, they are at a greater risk for DM. With diabetes, the pancreas fails to secrete adequate amounts of insulin (Type I DM) or there is resistance to insulin (Type II DM). Insulin is a natural hormone that drives sugar (i.e., blood glucose) into the cells. As a result of the cells starving for glucose, the body makes more and more glucose, causing hyperglycemia (i.e., high blood sugar) and many of the clinical signs seen with DM. Common clinical signs for DM are similar to those of Chronic kidney disease and hyperthyroidism and include:

• Excessive urination and thirst
• Larger clumps in the litter box
• An overweight or obese body condition with muscle wasting (especially over the spine or back) or weight loss
• A decreased or ravenous appetite
• Lethargy or weakness
• Vomiting
• Abnormal breath (e.g., acetone breath)
• Walking abnormally (e.g., lower to the ground)

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Treatment for DM can be costly, as it requires twice-a-day insulin injections that you have to give under the skin. It also requires changes in diet (to a high protein, low carbohydrate diet), frequent blood glucose monitoring, and frequent veterinary visits. With supportive care and chronic management, cats can do reasonably well; however, once diabetic complications develop (e.g., diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar, hyperglycemic syndrome), DM can be life-threatening.

If your cat or dog is coughing, the good news is that it’s probably not due to COVID-19. Experts from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) agree that COVID-19 is predominantly a human illness, and it’s unlikely for pets to be infected with the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. There are many types of viruses that can make cats or dogs sick. So, your veterinarian will check your pet to make sure that the symptoms aren’t being caused by a more common virus or other health problem.

Opinions about testing pets for COVID-19 are changing as we learn more about the virus and cases around the world. Public health authorities and veterinarians are working together to determine if an animal should be tested. Right now, there’s no evidence that dogs or cats can spread the virus to people. But there is growing evidence that in rare cases people may be able to infect animals. In the past month, two dogs and a cat in Hong Kong, a cat in Belgium, and a tiger at the Bronx Zoo in New York City were found to have been infected. In each situation, there was exposure to a COVID-19 positive person.

If your cat or dog is sick, the best thing to do is speak with your veterinarian. Be sure to let them know if your pet has been exposed to anyone who has COVID-19. Your veterinarian will let you know what to do and will work with public health authorities to determine if a test is recommended.

The post Treats During Training: Advantages and Disadvantages appeared first on The Petster.

Some of the ingredients that end up in commercial pet foods are truly shocking. What’s more, many of these will not appear on the label and others are hidden under umbrella terms such as ‘meat meal’ and ‘meat by-products’. How can this happen? The pet food industry is highly unregulated. As Ann Martin, author of Foods Pets Die For, writes in her article The Pet Food Industry and its Questionable Practices, ‘Governments in the USA and Canada regulate the labeling of the food, the name and address of the company, the weight of the product, and whether it is made for a dog or cat – nothing more.’

The meats used in pet food can be extremely low grade and unfit for human consumption. Summarized as the ‘4 D’s’ (dead, diseased, disabled, and dying), these can include roadkill, zoo animals, and infected and cancerous meats.

At the rendering plants ingredients are highly heated and processed, destroying nutrients and enzymes, with strong preservatives added which do not appear on the labels. These include fat stabilizers such as BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), both of which are known to cause liver and kidney dysfunction, and Ethoxyquin, a suspected cancer-causing agent. Semi-moist dog foods may also contain propylene glycol, a relation to ethylene glycol (anti-freeze), which can destroy red blood cells.

Pets in your pet food

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Though reportedly not the case today, it is well recorded that dogs and cats have ended up in dog and cat food. In his 1990 article How Dogs and Cats Get Recycled Into Pet Food, John Eckhouse, an investigative reporter, wrote: ‘Each year, millions of dead American dogs and cats are processed along with billions of pounds of other animal materials by companies known as renderers. The finished products — tallow and meat meals — serve as raw materials for thousands of items that include cosmetics and pet food.

Doctor of veterinary medicine Wendell Belfield in Foods Not Fit For a Pet (Earth Island Journal, 1996), reports that ‘federal and state agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration and medical groups such as the American Veterinary Medical Association and the California Veterinary Medical Association, confirm that pets, on a routine basis, are rendered after they die in animal shelters or are disposed of by health authorities, and the end product frequently finds its way into pet food.’

Toxic Grains

The very use of grains in pet food is questionable as grains are ill-suited to the digestive physiology of carnivores. This is especially so for cats who are obligatory carnivores and meet their glucose requirements through amino acids in their diet. Further, the grains used in dog and cat foods may contain mycotoxins, fungi that can cause chronic conditions and even death in both humans and animals. As the grains used in pet food are low grade, they are dealt with last in the handling process and because of this are often left in storage where insects, mites, and mycotoxin molds can grow.

The consumption of dead mites can cause skin allergies. If your pet has skin allergies, change their diet first before turning to steroids which can be seriously detrimental to your pet’s health.

Aflatoxin poisoning, a common mycotoxin that grows on corn as well as other foods, has been reported for over 50 years. Vomitoxin is another mycotoxin found in wheat products. Where large doses of mycotoxins can cause cancer and even rapid death, small continuous amounts may suppress the immune system and damage organs over time, leading to long-term chronic health conditions.

Just recently at the end of 2005, over 100 dogs were killed in the United States because of aflatoxin found in pet food, with some 19 brands of Diamond dog food being recalled. It is likely there were many more deaths than those reported, and as aflatoxin attacks the liver it is likely surviving dogs may develop chronic liver disease or liver cancer in the future.

Toxic Chemicals

The toxin sodium pentobarbital, a chemical is used to euthanize animals and pets, has been found in commercial pet foods. The US Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine performed two studies (1998 and 2000) to test for pentobarbital.  Of the 74 samples analyzed, over half were found to contain pentobarbital. What’s more, none of the 43 brands and product lines that tested positive warned of its presence on their labels.

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The FDA researchers also tested the food for the presence of dogs or cats but reported none present. It was believed the pentobarbital residues were entering pet foods from euthanized, rendered cattle, or even horses.

The FDA says the small amounts of the drug found in these foods were harmless, but not all veterinarians agree. Long-term continual doses, even at small levels maybe increase the onset of chronic and degenerative diseases.

Aside from the toxins and base ingredients of commercial pet foods, these harshly processed and high-carbohydrate products in no way match the natural diets dogs and cats would have eaten in the wild. They are species-inappropriate and ill-suited to canine and feline physiology. I recommend healthy, homemade, raw diets or optimum natural, holistic alternatives for the health and well-being of your dog and cat. Before embarking on a raw food diet (otherwise known as BARF – ‘biologically adequate raw food’), thoroughly research the area first as nutritional balance is essential.

The excitement of finding a perfect companion can be great when looking for a puppy, kitten or exotic animals and pets of a specific breed, and this makes people often turn to online sales sites. Surely you have observed that more and more people are opting to buy in an online pet store, and it is that it is a very interesting alternative that brings great benefits to the buyer, AnimalsSale.com is the website where you can buy or sell animals in the US, UK, Europe and other countries. You can find on their website full information about all dogs’ breeds, advice from experts on how to take care of puppies and kittens and other interesting information.

So here we are going to discover some of the most peculiarities of buying a pet from an online store. Featured.

Advantages of buying from a pet store

Today more and more people decide to have an animal in their family. For this reason, the opening of stores where they can buy any product or service dedicated to pets is becoming more and more frequent. According to some statistics, between 40% or 50% of families have a pet, so we must know well the offers in the market to be able to give our pets the best for their health and comfort.

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Immense variety in offers

These premises, often have a huge variety of items for pets. For this reason, we can use them to obtain bags of feed for dogs of different sizes, sweets, food products, clothes for dogs, toys, cages (in the case of rodents), etc.

Unlike shopping centres and supermarkets where we find a limited amount of items for our pets. In a pet store, we can find different things more specific to your needs.

In addition, there are also offers on pets and we can find a wide variety of animal species (if the establishment is a large company). In these places, the animals are usually kept in good condition and the employees are in charge of cleaning the cages daily.

Quality Products

Also, the advantage of buying in a specialized pet store is that we can find good quality products at their price. And it is that the prices themselves are usually quite accessible.

Quality is still an important detail when purchasing a product and/or service. In these places, there are usually articles of a quality more than enough to fulfil their function.

In addition, we have the products organized according to the type of pet and this helps to find what we need and more quickly. This saves time and unnecessary wandering in the store.

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Something important to note is that the products that are sold in specialized stores are usually from recognized brands and that they will also give us a guarantee. More if it is something that our pet has to ingest.

This really is important, because we cannot give anything to our pet. They could get sick if what they eat is in bad condition and if so, we must quickly claim it from the place of purchase. But in these places, the quality of the products is taken care of.

Preparedness for customer service

Another advantage is that we can have personalized attention based on our requests. There are always people around the premises who can guide us in our purchase and tell us which product suits us best for our needs.

This is extremely important since many times we can go to these stores and not be clear about what brand or what characteristics in the article can be better for our pet. This is a great advantage of buying from these stores.

Personnel in charge of customer service are often people who love animals and spend their time learning about pets. The best advice to buy is from people with a lot of experience.

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The post The Horrors of Commercial Pet Food: What Every Dog and Cat Owner Should Know appeared first on The Petster.

Add Trim Around the Cat Door

(Image credit: Excited Cats)

If you’ve ever been concerned about cats entering your home, a tiny, almost invisible cat door may be your answer. Use pine, birch, or oak trim to construct a cover to fit over your cat door. The door itself is simple to find at any hardware store or thrift store, and it can do most of the doorway opening sizes. You can also download some DIY plans for this project to get you started. Cover Your Cat Wall Wall-mounted cat toys can be a super fun way to play with your cats, but they can get a little distracting if you’re trying to focus on the task at hand – keeping the litter box area in good shape. Keeping them off the floor lets you keep an eye on them and helps prevent them from jumping on a nearby human or pet.

Put a Litter Box Inside a Large Basket

                                                    Image by All the Little Details via Pinterest.

1. This DIY is an easy DIY to make. Just take an empty basket, make a door, add wheels, and you’re done!
2. You will need about five boxes and wire wool. First, cut the wire wool to size and push it into the box. Then, put in a bag of litter and load the basket with small paper towels. Finally, roll it around until it looks good.
3. For a nice finish, you can add a handle to the basket. DIY Kitty Styling Station
4. For this nifty hack, insert the litter box into a tall cupboard, using an anchor point at the top and bottom of the door. Ensure the top of the closet is at least 4 inches off the floor so that the foot does not contact the litter box.
5. Using screws, create an extra shelf inside the cupboard where the litter box is stored.

Build a Mini Cat House Litter Cover

(Image credit: Laura Gummerman)

This feline-friendly version of a litter box is the perfect addition to your home. Wacky Adornments to Match Your Cat’s Personality These buttons and baubles will take a boring litter box design to a whole new level. Practical DIY Feline-Friendly Cat Litter Box This clever DIY project requires a few simple supplies, including a box cutter, spray paint, scrap wood, and one vinyl sticker. Proper Utensils for Any Cat Litter Box These feline-friendly tools are excellent for decluttering the litter box and cleaning up any extra messes your cat leaves behind. A Perfect Feline Storage Solution With a purpose-built tray, you’ll never have to deal with a dirty litter box again.

Keep the Litter Cabinet Organized

(Image credit: IKEAhackers)

Whether your cat is scared to go inside their new home or they just haven’t been able to adjust, it’s best to keep their litter box separate from the rest of the house until they adapt to their new environment. By creating a unique cabinet in their new home, you can display their litter box prominently and keep it neat. You can even make this clean and organized space within your existing cabinet to add a pop of color to the otherwise drab fixture. In addition, incorporate other decorative pieces that will give your wardrobe a cozy feel, such as a decorative rug, cutesy souvenirs, or decorative art. Add the Option of Shading the View Having a hidden litter box in your home can be very important to some people, and your cats are no exception.

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Paint a Pattern on a Basic Litter Box Cover

(Image credit: sugarandcloth)

One of the most accessible and attractive DIY litter boxes we’ve seen is the metal-wrapped cat litter box. You can give the top of this litter box an eye-catching touch by painting it in the pattern of your choice. This makes it an excellent choice for any color scheme or theme you might have in mind. You can also grab a glue gun and craft another colored bottom for a different feel. Once you’re done painting, you can seal the whole thing in polyurethane for protection. Invest in Pet Litter Container Enclosures If you don’t want t o make any modifications to your cat litter box, you could always upgrade to something that comes with its own enclosure. There are plenty of options out there to choose from, but there is only one downside — they can be expensive.

Remove Drawers and Install a Hinged Door

(Image credit: TrueValue)

This homemade tin cabinet, built by Chris Coyne for Cat In The Boardroom, features a space-saving design with a “hinged door” that can be used to hide your litter box. After using this quick and easy kit, your little buddy can easily get in and out of the cabinet. Don’t worry about what smells are going to come out because all of your cat’s excrement will be contained in the litter box, keeping them safe from a bad case of the runs. Broom & Box Corner Not every guy is going to want to spend the money on a custom-made litter box, and you might not want to spend a ton of time building something for your home. You can always add a small corner bin and broom to help keep dirt and odors at bay. Get this DIY built-in for $20 in wood and another $12 in paint.

Hide the Litter Box Under the Sink

(Image credit: DigsDigs)

Get creative and make a cabinet or shelf that hides the dirty litter. A cabinet that offers cat access to food and water is a great idea. It’s a simple and effective idea that requires minimal investment. Make a Cat Tree A cat tree can also be a great hideaway for your litter box. Once built, it can be a safe resting place for your kitty for an extra special treat! You can create a perfect space for your little cat with this awesome floor mat inspired by cat furniture. Vintage Themed Cat Hideaway When we think of cats, we imagine them sleeping under a cozy blanket or lounging in front of the fireplace. A rustic cabin built like a classic log cabin can be an excellent home for cats. But this type of cabin that’s built of a large number of planks and logs can cause some noise.

Install a Cat Door in Wardrobe Cabinet

(Image credit: Rover)

If you have more than one cat, this clever trick is for you. This clever installation keeps cats safe from predators when they’re in the house and gives them access to the outdoors. You’ll need a wardrobe cabinet (like this one from Ikea) and a pet door (such as this one from Cover) installed. Install the door and store the litter in the cabinet with a special cat litter tray. Check out more great DIY bathroom makeovers and dog accessory ideas. Litter Box Bench for Cats and Dogs Cats and dogs both like to scratch, but we’ve found a simple solution that will protect your hardwood floors. Litter boxes can usually fit on top of our regular footstools, but they’re usually designed for larger animals.

Drape Fabric Around an End Table

(Image credit: sawsonskates)

A tabletop cat box is a brilliant solution when the tray on your cat-chaired end table is littered with mail, keys, and other items. Simply purchase a pet-proof litter box tray from the store and wrap it in a fabric panel. For a cleaner look, add an inexpensive clear vinyl sticker. The logo will look cute next to the tray’s paint. Transform a Den If you’re downsizing or moving, you can easily pick up a sturdy faux-wood rectangular platform, like this one from House Spirit. Add a piece of plywood below to provide the perfect base for the bed of your choice. We love the more rustic look of this cat box. It was made with reclaimed wood.

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Add Curtains to a Console Table

(Image credit: Dimples and Tangles)

Just like the console table above, this DIY console table was a great way to hide a big task from our furry friends. Instead of having to clean up the litter box all the time, you can now hide the litter box inside the console table, keeping it safe from the mess. Undercover Litter Box Many DIY builders were quick to spot the clever utility of hiding a litter box in a drawer. Using a 2-drawer side and bottom dresser from IKEA, all you need is some hardware and furniture tape. As with many other home furniture DIY, this project will take a bit of time and patience. Thin-Lined Cat Bin There’s something special about looking through a cat-safe trash can. This DIY hack, which fits easily in the lid of your trash can, helps you keep the cat-toilet area clean and easy to clean.

Build a Custom Kitty Litter Box

(Image credit: Ikeahackers)

The Three Blind Mice Co. did a great job recreating this mint green masterpiece. This made-in-the-U.S. original shelter is a work of art that will delight you and your kitty alike. In the meanwhile, your animal friend will continue to enjoy a comfy and private seat. If you’re looking for something more modern and a little brighter, you can opt for this geometric-designed option from Campsite. It’s a great decor piece that has a lot of charm, but at the same time, the litter box does not look out of place. We also love that there are contrasting colors and textured materials to give the design some pizzazz. It looks like it belongs at a museum and will definitely add a lot of personality to your home.

Use the Inside of a Bench for Kitty Litter Storage

(Image credit: Foter)

This clever and affordable indoor bench is simple to build from spare wood. Once you’ve fashioned the hideaway box, you simply need to construct a shelf inside the bench to hold the litter. The floor also needs to be sealed, so you don’t track litter around the house. Cool Ways to Make a Small, Accent Crate a Little More Personality Choose a Cool Cat Litter Box Image Although it’s not as pretty as the modern, orange-and-black patent design below, this simple DIY outfitter keeps the lid accessible. Use an adhesive clamp to glue the lid to the platform before adding a shelf to store a scoop and a litter tray inside.

Convert a Bedroom Dresser into Litter Box Storage

(Image credit: HGTV)

This roomy, modern home entertainment center is completely full of storage for the comforts of your cats. You can buy a litter box, but you’ll probably want a good place to keep it during the day, too. When it comes to luxury cat furniture, the bed on this bed will offer a private, cozy spot to sit and snuggle. If you want to combine the two, just add some blanket. Turn a Pillow into a Cat Litter Box Cover It’s the perfect pillow for relaxing, but we have a better use for this pillow: as a cat box cover. It’s lightweight and functional, and there are several locations for litter box access (under the pillow, inside the pillow cover, and inside the head of the pillow). You can even extend the box out and use a bag of litter as a drop-in litter.

Repurpose a Tote for a Larger Litter Box

(Image credit: Barbara Adamcik)

Most people think of portable totes as places to store shopping bags, but this one is a better place to store the litter box. Watch this story for more details. Fix the Stinky Carpet With Paint Did you know you can paint your carpet? You can even find a pre-applied sealer to give your long-neglected carpet a shiny new look. The best part? It’s cheap and easy! Even Without a Carpet, it’s Still Easy to Hide a Litter Box By adding layers of paint, and you can create the illusion of a carpet in your home. This home design blogger is giving her downstairs bath a new look with a completely covered area. Add Litter Box Jars to a Rope Climb You can also create a climbable cat tree using climbing rings and big boxes. Watch this quick DIY to see how this system works.

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Add Playful Decals Outside the Cat Door

(Image credit: Pets Lady)

Since the idea behind this hidden cat door is to prevent the litter box from getting scuffed up by being outside, a fun way to give the box a happy home is to create a play area for your cat. You can create a bright, colorful design to help your cat feel playful and stop them from scratching and marking up the door too much. Just choose your favorite decals online and watch them appear on the bottom of the door for an added touch of cuteness. Use Tape to Hide the Box From Extruders The best solution for this pesky issue of cat litter clogging up countertops, cabinets, and other hard-to-reach places? Use tape. You’ll find the best tape-in many department stores and drug stores for both home and office use.

Put the Cat Door on the Top of a Cabinet

(Image credit: Ikeahackers)

Make a litter box space hidden from sight. This ingenious solution uses a window ledge as a litter box door. With a few small upgrades (like screws) and wooden crates or crates with metal covers, your cat can enter and exit the litter box area with ease. Buy a trash can to conceal a litter box. Install a trash can and/or food dish on top of an entertainment center. The extra space and well-designed design make this litter box a practical option. Lay a sheet across a kitchen table to hide the cat litter box. Lay down a waterproof or thick plastic sheet to camouflage the litter box. Lay the sheet over the top of the table, then set up the litter box.

Create a Cat Walk to Remove Excess Litter

(Image credit: instructables)

Place this striking catwalk in the middle of your home or office to give your feline friends a private, comfortable place to take care of their business. It’s especially great for relieving the stress on your paws. Simply cut a piece of furniture in the shape of a U. Using long nails or screws, secure the ‘U’ on the wall or ceiling, creating a catwalk. Then, just add some cushioning for maximum comfort. Keep a Trim around the Toilet to Protect Your Porch No matter how you feel about litter boxes, and you have to admit they are useful. They’re low maintenance and cheap to buy, plus you can set one up at your front door to keep garbage out and for easy clean-up. This clever solution involves building a box to shield your front steps from the litter.

Cat need to access their own private space

(Image credit: instructables)

A new coat of paint on a baseboard or piece of furniture is a great way to transform the look and feel of a small space, and this DIY looks amazing and comes with surprisingly low maintenance. To create the cubby, first drill two holes in the baseboard, then attach two more small screws with the included hex key. Next, simply drill two holes for the metal stakes, attach them to the baseboard, and use the included screws to secure them in place. Repeat this process two more times around the baseboard for a total of four new holes. This simple custom make will hide the handle of your litter box and will allow your cat to access their own private space, so it can do its business without annoying you.

Conclusion

(Image credit: CatandWood)

Making a comfortable indoor litter box can be challenging. Fortunately, there are several solutions you can take advantage of to make it a comfortable space for your cats. Utilize these ideas, and your cats will love having their own cozy spot. And I Would say that the DIY cost a lot of time and money also, that it’s better to buy at catandwood.com instead of making it yourself. Have you tried one of these cool litter box projects?  if so, share your thoughts in the comments below.

The post Croquettes for Cats: The Benefits of Dry Food appeared first on The Petster.

pet express dog food Fresh meat

pet express dog food fresh meat are much divided. From great advocates who preach only fresh meat to fierce opponents.

Benefits of fresh meat for your dog

What are the benefits of fresh meat? Since the dog is descended from the wolf, it almost feels natural to only feed your dog fresh meat. It is certain that (also) the current domestic dog is perfectly capable of digesting raw meat: the digestibility is therefore good. A second advantage is that the dog loves raw meat. Furthermore, the advantages mentioned are that the dog has fewer gastrointestinal problems, has fewer faces, better teeth, and a nicer coat than dogs that only eat dry dog food or wet food.

We would like to point out, however, that it has never been scientifically proven that feeding fresh meat would have advantages overfeeding (high-quality) dry dog food. The benefits are mainly based on the experiences of people who only feed their dogs’ raw meat.

Disadvantages of fresh meat for dogs

The disadvantage of feeding raw meat is that dogs have Salmonella bacteria (and other bacteria) in their stools. Healthy, adult dogs will generally not be affected. But in young, old or sick animals, this bacteria can cause illness. Another drawback is the one-sided composition of the food. Often the raw meat is not a complete meal, containing all the necessary nutrients. This drawback can be overcome by purchasing raw meat from a well-known company that has an eye for this, or by consulting a nutritionist. Another disadvantage is that the fresh meat does not keep for a long time. Finally, great care must be taken when preparing fresh meat because of the risk of infection for humans (especially in young children).

Risk of fresh meat

There is a risk of feeding raw meat: and that is that often larynxes and other pieces are processed that are not suitable for consumption. Dogs that only eat raw meat sometimes get too much of the thyroid hormone, causing thyroid disease. If you want to feed raw meat to your dog, it is therefore very important to purchase this raw meat from a well-known quality brand.

Benefits of dry dog   food

The advantage of dry dog food (provided it is a good quality dog food) is that the dog gets all the necessary nutrients in the right proportion. Another advantage is that if the dog only eats dog food, there will be few dental problems because plaque and tartar will not develop quickly. The latter applies more to extruded chunks than pressed chunks because extruded chunks only dissolve in the stomach. Another advantage is that dry dog food can be stored for a long time. Besides, dry dog food is cheaper than fresh meat or wet food alone. It is hygienic and easy to carry. A final advantage is that dry dog food is a complete meal: it contains all the necessary nutrients.

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Disadvantages of dry dog   food

The disadvantage of pressed dog food is that it must contain a relatively high amount of carbohydrates (sugars), otherwise, they will fall apart. With a high protein/fat percentage, the mixture falls apart. To be gooey enough, extra carbohydrates are added. This is less the case with pressed dry dog food that is made with the most modern techniques.

Extruded chunks

A disadvantage of extruded pellets is mentioned that the mixture from which it is made is heated, which could lead to the loss of vitamins and minerals. If you want to know whether the pet express dog food you give contains enough vitamins and minerals, you can consult the packaging. The percentage of ‘crude ash’ is indicated on it. This means the minerals that remain after combustion. This crude ash percentage should not be too low, otherwise, your dog will not get enough minerals. But it shouldn’t be too high either, because that’s not good either. The desired amount is between 4 and 8%. The vitamins contained in the food are also indicated on the label.

Other drawbacks

The disadvantage of dry dog food is that they (usually) contain a lower percentage of meat than fresh meat or canned food. It is therefore important to pay attention to the quality of the brand of dry dog food. Meat should be listed as the first ingredient on the packaging. Another disadvantage is that they contain little water. The dog should therefore always have fresh water at his / her disposal in addition to the dog food. Besides, dogs take longer to digest the kibble compared to raw meat. It is therefore important not to take your dog for a long walk or run immediately after feeding. It is preferable to give food after physical exertion and only when the dog has calmed down and had water first.

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Wet food

Wet food refers to canned meat menus. The quality between the brands that sell wet food varies enormously. Here too it is important to consult the label to view the ingredients. And if you want to know how much-wet food your dog has, you can read it in this blog:  how much-wet food does a dog need

Benefits of wet food for dogs

What are the benefits of canned food? Dogs love canned food. Dogs really like its smells and tastes. Another advantage is that canned food contains a lot of water. So dogs get enough moisture when they eat a can of wet food. This can be a major advantage, especially in the summer: scientific research has shown that if dogs eat wet food with a moisture content of 6%, they will in principle receive enough moisture to maintain their moisture balance.

If dogs get too fat, you can (temporarily or otherwise) switch to wet food so that the excess weight can recover. Because canned food contains a lot of water (and water has no calories), the dog will consume fewer calories than if he/she eats the same amount of kibble. Another advantage is that canned food – depending on the brand and the price of course – often contains a high percentage of meat. You should also consult the label for this because the meat content must be stated on it.

Disadvantages of wet food for dogs

The disadvantage of canned food is that it is soft and sticky, which can cause plaque and tartar to form. Another disadvantage is that it can spoil and cannot be kept long after the can has been opened. Furthermore, wet food is comparatively more expensive than dry dog food and contains less energy. Your dog will therefore have to eat a little more to maintain the same weight.

Is it possible to combine fresh meat with dry dog food?

Raw meat with dog chunks If you want to combine the types of food, you will have to pay extra attention to whether your dog continues to do it ‘right’. The digestion of raw meat (especially bones) is different from that of dog chunks, so that combination in one meal is not obvious. But chunks for a few days followed by raw meat for a few days are fine in most cases.

Ziwi Peak

A good combination of fresh meat with dry dog food is the combination with the dog food from Ziwi Peak. These dog chunks are processed fresh through a special method, so that digestion proceeds in the same way as with fresh meat. The dog food from Ziwi Peak contains no less than 98% fresh meat. Besides, it contains green mussels and vegetables and fruit so that it is a complete meal. No more worries about additions. Ziwi Peak dry dog food is, therefore, a perfect alternative for people who otherwise give fresh meat. Ziwi Peak dry dog food is handy to take with you and a good alternative during the holidays, or on a day out, or if you don’t feel like preparing the fresh meat. Besides, the fresh meat fans can also enjoy the snacks with confidence Give Ziti Peak or the wet food.

Dry dog   food with wet food

Extruded pellets and wet food can easily be combined. In that case, the most ideal scenario is dry food in the morning and wet food in the evening. This is because chunks digest more slowly and therefore continue to provide energy for a long time. Wet food is easily digestible and is therefore good for a night’s rest. Many people combine kibble and wet food in one meal, which is fine for many dogs.

Pay attention when combining

It is, therefore, necessary to pay attention when combining. Keep an eye on the stool in particular: this is a good indicator of digestion.

Which choice are you going to make?

As a dog owner, it is best to rely on your own dog and – partly depending on your wallet of course – make a choice. Raw meat or tins of wet food are simply more expensive than dry dog food. Each choice has its pros and cons.

Meat First

It is important that the main ingredient in your dog’s food – whatever choice you make – is meat. Therefore, check the label to see if the meat is listed as the first ingredient: Meat First. contains fats, minerals, and vitamins. With raw meat, it is best to study the supplier to determine whether the quality is good.

If you want to learn how to groom your dog at home, you need to know the basics, such as how to cut a dog’s nails. I’ll show you exactly what you need to do and how to do it safely so that know one gets hurt.

Cutting a dog’s fingernails might sound scary but there’s nothing about it that’s difficult. You just have to be careful and know what you’re doing .

You should start off by collecting all of the supplies for this task. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Nail Trimmer
• Scissors
• Styptic Powder (optional)

Now that you’ve got your stuff together, it’s time to get started.

Step 1: Make Your Dog Comfortable

First, make sure your dog is relaxed and comfortable around you. Do this by giving him a treat or two before starting. If possible, start this process after they’ve eaten their meal to help them feel extra sleepy and calm! For anxious dogs, you can even try CBD Oil for Dogs.

Step 2: Prepare The Paw

Second, lift one of your dogs paws into your hand and press gently on the pad of the paw while looking at the tip of each nail. You’ll be able to see where your dog’s skin is and if you cut it, he will bleed and it may hurt him.

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That’s why we use a nail cutter, so we don’t have to worry about hurting our dog when trimming their nails.

Step Three: Secure The Paw

Third, you can feel free to push down on the pad of their paw if it’s more comfortable for you. If your dog is wiggly when you’re trying to hold his paw, you can try this instead!

Step 4: Apply The Cut

Fourth, once you’ve identified where the quick ends in each nail, go ahead and cut just past that point. You’ll only want to cut into the pinkish area on the end of his nail, not into the black part. If you do accidentally cut into this black section, use an absorbent cotton ball to stop the bleeding. After it stops, apply some styptic powder to help the blood clot faster and prevent infection in your dog’s paw. You can then apply some CBD for Pets to promote healing as well.

Step 5: Repeat on All Nails

Fifth, keep trimming until all their nails are the same length.

Step by Step Instructions for Trimming Dog Nails

1. Pet your dog and make sure they’re comfortable with you
2. With one paw in each hand, feel for the end of each nail to know where to cut
3. Cut just past this point (only into the pinkish area)
4. Keep cutting until all of the nails are the same length
5. If you accidentally cut into the black part, apply some styptic powder to stop the bleeding

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Now that you’ve learned how to cut your dog’s nails, you can feel confident doing it at home! If this process continues to be too stressful for either of you, then why not try bringing them to a groomer?

If you want more information on how to do this and other dog grooming basics, check out the video linked below:

Whether or not dogs dream isn’t known with scientific certainty, but it sure is difficult to imagine that they don’t. We’ve all watched our dogs demonstrate behaviours in their sleep that resemble what they do in a fully awake state. Paddling legs, whining, growling, wagging tails, chewing jowls, and twitching noses inspire us to wonder what our dogs are dreaming about.

What we know about dogs and dreams

While our knowledge on this topic is very limited, the following known information helps us believe that dogs do indeed experience dreams. According to MIT News, Matthew Wilson, a professor of neuroscience at MIT, and Kenway Louie, a graduate student in 2001,  have studied the relationships between memory, sleep and dreams. They found that when rats were trained to run along a circular track for food rewards, their brains created a distinctive firing pattern of neurons (brain cells). The researchers repeated the brain monitoring while the rats were sleeping. Low and behold, they observed the same signature brain activity pattern associated with running whether the rats were awake or asleep. In fact, the memories played at approximately the same speed during sleep as when the rats were awake.

Can we apply this to dogs?

Can we take what is known about dreaming in rats and humans and apply the information to dogs? Wilson believes that we can.”My guess is — unless there is something special about rats and humans — that cats and dogs are doing exactly the same thing,” he said, according to USA Today’s website.

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It is known that the hippocampus, the portion of the brain that collects and stores memories, is wired much the same way in all mammals. According to healthday.com, Professor Wilson says, “If you compared a hippocampus in a rat to a dog; in a cat to a human, they contain all of the same pieces.” He believes that as dogs sleep, images of past events replay in their minds, much the same way people recall experiences while dreaming.

In people, it is known that most dreams occur during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, according to the National Institutes of Health. Dogs also experience periods of REM sleep. Psychology Today’s website says that during REM their breathing becomes more irregular and shallow. There may be muscle twitching during REM and, when one looks closely, rapid eye movements behind closed eyelids can often be observed. It is during REM sleep that behaviours thought to be associated with dreaming (legs paddling, twitching, vocalizing, etc.) are most commonly observed.

What we want to believe about dog dreams

When we observe our dogs as they sleep, it’s just about impossible to imagine that they are not dreaming. Just like the rats studied by Wilson and Louie, it is tempting to believe that our four-legged best buddies are reenacting their recent experiences; playing at the dog park, sniffing in the woods, chewing on a treasured bone, and chasing squirrels.

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The National Institutes of Health says that Sigmund Freud theorized that dreaming was a “safety valve” for our unconscious desires. Perhaps he is correct, and, when our dogs sleep, they dream about catching the neighbour’s pesky cat, continuous belly rubs in conjunction with unlimited dog treats, and stealing the Thanksgiving turkey from the dining room table.

If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian — they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.

Did you know that some authorities feel that 1 out of every 100 dogs that reach 12 years of age develops diabetes mellitus?

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a hormonal problem where the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin, the hormone that helps push sugar (“glucose”) into the body’s cells. Without the insulin, the body’s cells are starving for sugar; unfortunately, this then stimulates the body to produce more and more sugar (in an attempt to feed the cells). That’s why your dog’s blood sugar is so high (what we call a “hyperglycemia”) with diabetes mellitus.

Without insulin, the sugar can’t get into the cells; hence, why you need to give insulin to your dog with a tiny syringe twice a day. In dogs, this is a disease that can be costly to treat and requires twice-a-day insulin along with frequent veterinary visits for the rest of your dog’s life.

So how do you know if your dog has diabetes? Clinical signs of diabetes mellitus in dogs include:

• Excessive drinking
• Excessive urination
• Urinary accidents in the house
• Dilute urine
• Overweight or obese
• Muscle wasting
• Ravenous appetite
• Frequent urinary tract infections
• Weakness
• Unkempt or poor hair coat
• Blindness secondary to cataracts
• Neuropathies (nerve problems)

As your dog gets older, it’s worth talking to your veterinarian about doing routine blood work to make sure your dog is healthy. This blood work will help rule out kidney and liver problems, anaemia, infections, electrolyte problems and diabetes mellitus. The sooner you recognize the clinical signs, the sooner your dog can be treated with insulin and the fewer complications we see as a result.

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So, if you notice any of the signs above, get to a veterinarian right away. Now, continue on for 5 important reasons to test your dog for diabetes:

1. Your dog will live longer

Diabetes mellitus can shorten the lifespan of your dog, as secondary complications and infections can occur. With diabetes, the body is immunosuppressed and more likely to develop diabetic complications which cause long term harm to your dog.

2. Your dog will be able to see

Did you know that the majority of dogs with diabetes eventually go blind from cataracts? Even in well-controlled diabetic dogs, the excess sugar in the body can have secondary effects on the lens of the eye; it causes more water to influx into the lens, which disrupts the clearness of the lens. As a result, cataract formation occurs, resulting in eventual blindness and secondary inflammation in both eyes. While cataract surgery can (and ideally, should) be performed, it can be costly.

3. You’ll save a lot of money

Treatment for diabetes mellitus includes twice-a-day insulin treatment, insulin syringes, prescription diets, and frequent veterinary trips for blood tests. Also, as diabetic dogs can’t go without their insulin, it may mean hiring house sitters or pet sitters to treat your pet while you are on vacation.

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4. You’ll have fewer urinary accidents in the house

One of the biggest signs of uncontrolled diabetes mellitus is excessive drinking, urination and having urinary accidents in the house. Because of hyperglycemia, dogs are also at increased risk for urinary tract infections, wreaking havoc on your carpet. The sooner you can treat your dog with insulin and get diabetes controlled or regulated, the less your dog will drink and urinate, making your dog more comfortable too!

5. You’ll have more peace knowing that your dog is healthy

As a veterinarian and dog owner, I want to make sure my dog is as healthy as possible. You might already be talking with your veterinarian about vaccines each year in a dog that is older than 7 years of age; next, talk to your veterinarian about doing an annual exam and routine blood work too. It’ll pick up on medical problems sooner, so you can rest assured that your dog is going to live a longer, happier, healthier life!

Having a diabetic pet is also a big commitment, as it requires dedicated pet parents who can give twice-a-day injections of insulin. Caring for a diabetic dog does require frequent trips to the veterinarian to regulate blood sugar. That said, dogs can live with diabetes for years with appropriate care and treatment. When in doubt, make sure to monitor your dog carefully for the signs of diabetes, and seek veterinary attention sooner rather than later to help test for this ever-growing problem!

The post Fresh Meat, Pet Express Dog Food appeared first on The Petster.

The BARF Diet for pets translates to Biologically Appropriate Raw Foods and is something like the equivalent of the Paleo diet for dogs and cats. It has many followers, especially in the United States and Northern Europe, but is the BARF diet safe? What base is behind it?

The benefits of the BARF diet delve, at least in theory, into how animals process food. Also, more than anything else, in the poor quality of commercial food, a way of defending alternative diets and therapies sounds a lot to us. However, one thing must be said before going into flour: much commercial feed may not be totally suitable for pets, but that does not make raw foods better, especially of certain types and sources.

The Paleo Diet for Pets

We are no longer hunter-gatherers, although perhaps our body has not yet been found out. Some people based on this fact promote the so-called Paleo diet, that is, we should eat the same as in the Paleolithic. It is what our body is prepared for, and it is true, although it is also true that in the Paleolithic, life expectancy was low.

Evolution may not have changed our bodies in a very pronounced way, but technology has forever changed the way we eat, for the better. That is a fact in humans, but what about pets? Cats and especially dogs have been with us for thousands of years, something that has also modified their way of eating and their diet.

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The BARF diet promotes standards that include mostly raw meat and some vegetables and fruits. It’s what a dog or cat could get in the wild, the Paleo Diet for pets. Its main problem is that it stumbles on the same arguments as the paleo diet for people: thanks to technology, deficiencies are covered that the so-called “natural diet” does not cover, especially considering that your dog no longer travels kilometers to hunt prey. Your life is different and your needs are probably too.

The so-called BARF diet for pets is popular in certain countries, and that has led to several problems. Owners who have given their friends frozen BARF food have seen dozens of cases of infections by bacteria and other pathogens. It just seems that raw food – oh, surprise – is a source of disease.

Not that we discovered the gunpowder. Humans started cooking food a long time ago for the same reason, but what about animals? If we don’t feed a dog cooked meat, he is not going to make it and probably never would have tasted it. Can an animal eat raw meat without risk or not? Apparently, not entirely, and we refer to the cases cited by EC.

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It is clear that the organism of a dog, a cat, or another animal does not work in the same way, but a domestic dog stopped being a wild animal long ago. Yes, the quality of some processed feed may be questionable, but that does not make a piece of frozen chicken from you who knows what origin and quality safer.

To sample a button: a manual for prey-feeding zoo animals. It is not so easy, and it is that it warns against payments present in corpses in a natural way that could cause diseases, and definitely that is something you do not want for your pet, with or without natural food.

That said, we close this section with something that perhaps the supporters of all the benefits of the BARF diet do not like, at least in its industrial aspect, still unknown: processed feed has been classified by the authorities as safe. More or less nutritious, more or less recommended, but safe. Your cat may shed a little more hair, but it is more difficult for it to catch a life-threatening illness due to bacteria. What to do if you don’t trust the feed and prefer a “natural” diet?

For starters, it is perhaps natural for your dog to roam the steppe in packs. On that basis, qualifying as natural any food provided by a human may not be the most correct, although it is clear that dogs have long ceased to be wolves.

To continue, the best thing you can do if you have doubts is to consult your vet, who is the professional and the best placed to advise you in these cases. Surely you can ask him if it is convenient to give your pet homemade food, that is, raw or cooked meat but from different sources than that sold frozen as a BARF diet.

In short: it may be that by taking great care of the origin and type of raw food that you give your pet, the BARF diet can be considered safe, but only with extreme care.

If cleaning commercials are to be believed, humanity is in the midst of a war against germs—and we shouldn’t stop until every single one is dead. In reality, the amount of disinfecting we do is making us sicker; since our bodies are exposed to a less diverse mix of germs, our entire microbiome is messed up. Fortunately, dogs are covered in germs! Having a dog in the house means more diverse bacteria enter the home and get inside the occupants (one study found “dog-related biodiversity” is especially high on pillowcases). In turn, people with dogs seem to get ill less frequently and less severely than people—especially children—with cats or no pets.

2. YOU’RE MORE RESISTANT TO ALLERGIES.

While dog dander can be a trigger for people with allergies, growing up in a house with a dog makes children less likely to develop allergies over the course of their lives. And the benefits can start during gestation; a 2024 study published in the journal Microbiome found that a bacterial exchange happened between women who lived with pets (largely dogs) during pregnancy and their children, regardless of the type of birth or whether the child was breastfed, and even if the pet was not in the home after the birth of the child. Those children tested had two bacteria, Ruminococcus and Oscillospira, that reduce the risk of common allergies, asthma, and obesity, and they were less likely to develop eczema.

3. YOU’LL HAVE BETTER HEART HEALTH.

Everything about owning a dog seems to lend itself to better heart health. Just the act of petting a dog lowers heart rate and blood pressure. A 2024 Chinese study found a link between dog ownership and reduced risk of coronary artery disease, while other studies show pet owners have slightly lower cholesterol and are more likely to survive a heart attack.

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4. YOU GET MORE EXERCISE.

While other pets have positive effects on your health as well, dogs have the added benefit of needing to be walked and played with numerous times a day. This means that many dog owners are getting 30 minutes of exercise a day, lowering their risk of cardiovascular disease.

5. YOU’LL BE HAPPIER.

Dog owners are less likely to suffer from depression than non-pet owners. Even for those people who are clinically depressed, having a pet to take care of can help them out of a depressive episode. Since taking care of a dog requires a routine and forces you to stay at least a little active, dog owners are more likely to interact with others and have an increased sense of well-being while tending to their pet. The interaction with and love received from a dog can also help people stay positive. Even the mere act of looking at your pet increases the amount of oxytocin, the “feel good” chemical, in the brain.

6. YOU HAVE A MORE ACTIVE SOCIAL LIFE.

Not only does dog ownership indirectly tell others that you’re trustworthy, your trusty companion can help facilitate friendships and social networks. A 2024 study published in PLOS One found that dogs can be both the catalyst for sparking new relationships and also the means for keeping social networks thriving. One study even showed that those with dogs also had closer and more supportive relationships with the people in their lives.

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7. YOUR DOG MIGHT BE A CANCER DETECTOR.

Your dog could save your life one day: It seems that our canine friends have the ability to smell cancer in the human body. Stories abound of owners whose dogs kept sniffing or licking a mole or lump on their body so they got it checked out, discovering it was cancerous. The anecdotal evidence has been backed up by scientific studies, and some dogs are now trained to detect cancer.

8. YOU’LL BE LESS STRESSED AT WORK.

The benefits of bringing a dog to work are so increasingly obvious that more companies are catching on. Studies show that people who interact with a pet while working have lower stress levels throughout the day, while people who do not bring a pet see their stress levels increase over time. Dogs in the office also lead to people taking more breaks, to play with or walk the dog, which makes them more energized when they return to work. This, in turn, has been shown to lead to much greater productivity and job satisfaction.

9. YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT YOUR PERSONALITY.

The kind of dog you have says a lot about your personality. A study in England found a very clear correlation between people’s personalities and what type of dogs they owned; for example, people who owned toy dogs tended to be more intelligent, while owners of utility dogs like Dalmatians and Bulldogs were the most conscientious. Other studies have found that dog owners, in general, are more outgoing and friendly than cat owners.

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10. YOUR KIDS WILL BE MORE EMPATHETIC.

Though one 2003 study found that there was no link between pet ownership and empathy in a group of children, a 2024 study of 1000 7- to 12-year-olds found that pet attachment of any kind encouraged compassion and positive attitudes toward animals, which promoted better well-being for both the child and the pet. Children with dogs scored the highest for pet attachment, and the study notes that “dogs may help children to regulate their emotions because they can trigger and respond to a child’s attachment-related behavior.” And, of course, only one pet will happily play fetch with a toddler.

11. WHICH DOG BREED TO CHOOSE

If you are considering a pet in your family then a Patterdale terrier is a good option. Patterdale Terriers are typically good-natured and affectionate. They’re classic terriers with lots of energy and an independent personality. The Patterdale Terrier is named after Patterdale, a village in the Lake District where the breed was originally developed. They were traditionally used for hunting, namely badger control in the UK and groundhogs and raccoons in the USA

A litter box is a necessity for all cat owners, yet finding a great spot to put it has always been a problem. However, there are many types of litter box furniture available to help find a solution to this problem. We’ve looked into many different styles and cabinets and have found that the best cat litter box furniture is the Refined Cat Litter Box Deluxe from The Refined Feline.

Things you should consider when buying cat litter box furniture:

The Cost of The Litter Box Cabinet

As with all other products for our beloved cat, the cost is a big factor choosing the items we buy. Some manufacturers offer more expensive options but the features that they offer are the most important factor. Therefinedfeline.com offers a moderately priced option that is the best bang for your buck. Cheaper options are often made of material that can not hold up against odors and moisture. The last thing you want is for the cabinet to absorb anything from the litter. One good option for the cabinet to be made of is solid wood. This is exactly what this one from The Refined Feline is made of. It even includes a plastic liner on the inside to keep the litter in one place.

The Size of The Litter Box Cabinet

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When choosing the appropriate furniture for your cat, make sure that it will fit both your cat and the litter box. Many cabinets are only offered in one size but this one is offered in 2 sizes that will fit even an automatic litter box. You should also consider where you will be placing this cabinet in your home.

The Design of The Litter Box Cabinet

Some litter box furniture doesn’t take into account the design. However, unique modern cat furniture from The Refined Feline is all about design. Their furniture is offered in many different colors and designs. In fact, it’s customizable so that you can choose the door panel and foot design that you like. Not only does it look nice though, it is also functional. Inside of this cabinet you will find a storage drawer. In the back there are even ventilation slots. These slots can hold carbon filters to absorb the odors. This will prevent the odors from entering your home and will also keep the air fresh inside the cabinet.

The Accessibility of The Litter Box Cabinet

At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what kind of litter box furniture you get if your cat can’t use it. Make sure that your cat is fully able to get in and out of the enclosure with ease. If your cat is older you may want to keep the enclosure lower to the ground and not put feet on it. You could also add a litter catch to not only catch the stray litter but to act as a step up.

In Conclusion: The Best Litter Box Cabinet

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A cat litter box cabinet is a practical and functional way to hide the litter box and also make cleaning up easier. This solution is especially ideal if you are short on space and don’t have much of a choice when it comes to the litter box location.

2024 has been a difficult year and the world is still struggling to overcome covid-19. Lockdowns have been imposed and people are confined to their homes. They are spending more time at home than ever. This is the time to have a perfect pet like a teacup puppy that doesn’t even need outdoor activity and keeps you happy all the time.

Teacup puppies are the smaller and cuter versions of normal dogs. The name teacup is used for them because they are literally small enough to fit in a teacup. Teacup versions of most of the dog breeds are available.

The most common teacup puppies are from the following breeds

• Pomeranians
• Maltese
• Maltipoo
• Poodle
• Yorkshire terriers
• Shih tzu

Due to their smaller size and cute appearance, they have gained considerable attention over the past decade. The most exciting thing about having a teacup puppy is that you can carry them anywhere with you as they can fit into your pocket or bag, hence accompanying you all around the town.

If you manage to take care of their health, they can accompany you even up to 15 years. When you have a larger dog, you need to have enough space for them or but in the case of teacup puppies, it is not necessary to have a large space for them to thrive. They can easily be adjusted to a small apartment which makes it easier to keep the space clean due to less shedding. They can be kept by the people who have homes with pet size restrictions.

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Unlike larger dogs, they are less likely to be aggressive and irritable and can be a friendly companion. They have docile nature which makes it easier to carry them wherever you go, even when traveling.  It is convenient to dine in and shop when you have your pet with you because most of the shopping malls and restaurants allow going inside with your little friend. Their small size means they don’t need a lot of food or preventive medications resulting in lower ownership costs. Although they do not require long walks proper exercise and socialization are good for their mental and physical health.

Teacup puppies require very little exercise daily. Actually, their exercise requirements are met while playing indoors. Teacup puppies can be your best friend for 13-16 years if they are taken care of properly. This sounds a bit amazing because the average life span of normal dogs is 12-13 years so it means teacup puppies outlive them by 2-3 years.

The small size of teacup puppies can be a problem sometimes. For example, they are fragile and vulnerable to rough handling by kids. They can get injured easily if they fall from a height or car stepped on. So, teacup puppies need to be handled carefully and with love.

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If you want to get a teacup puppy as a pet, you can get one from Yas Puppies. All the puppies are up to date on the shots and come with a one-year health guarantee.

The post BARF Diet for Pets, Is It Good or Dangerous? appeared first on The Petster.

When we feed our pets with good quality food, the portions should be smaller compared to low-end foods, since by containing a good source of protein and high-quality ingredients, it provides excellent nutrition, without having to fill up complete their bowl, because they are satisfied, what if it happens with low-end foods that having low-quality ingredients and protein sources of animal by-products (beaks, feathers, legs, etc.) forces them to be served a much larger portion because with a smaller ration they are not satisfied and they would not be receiving the required nutrition. If you are one of those who thinks that a Premium food is much more expensive than regular food, we invite you to do the math taking into account the amount of the portion that you should give with each one,

Fewer vet bills:

If you feed your pet with high-quality products, you can be sure that you are providing health and well-being because good nutrition helps them keep bones, skin, and coat healthy, muscles strong, keep them full of energy, as well as provides high defenses helping to prevent diseases that could occur in the future. In other words, fewer visits to the vet, fewer bills to pay!

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More solid stools:

By consuming a high-quality protein and a good percentage of fiber at the time of digestion, most of the nutrients are used, making the consistency of the waste more solid (not totally hard, but not very soft).

Fewer bathrooms:

If your pet is fed with high-quality food that contains omega 3 and 6, it will strengthen the health of the coat, which generates a natural fat on the skin that protects it from climatic factors and diseases, keeping the coat shiny, reducing the fall of the same and the generation of bad smell.

When dogs or cats are fed low-quality food, the skin can be reflected with dryness and the development of diseases that generate a bad smell.

Healthy breath:

Healthy breath in a pet is directly related to good digestion without excess fat and low-quality protein, in addition to the shape and development of kibbles that prevent the formation of tartar and cavities. If you are currently giving it a portion of food with high-quality ingredients and you notice that your pet has bad breath, we recommend that you take it to your trusted veterinarian, since there may be various causes unrelated to its diet that may be generating the bad breath.

The excitement of finding a perfect companion can be great when looking for a puppy, kitten or exotic animals and pets of a specific breed, and this makes people often turn to online sales sites. Surely you have observed that more and more people are opting to buy in an online pet store, and it is that it is a very interesting alternative that brings great benefits to the buyer, AnimalsSale.com is the website where you can buy or sell animals in the US, UK, Europe and other countries. You can find on their website full information about all dogs’ breeds, advice from experts on how to take care of puppies and kittens and other interesting information.

So here we are going to discover some of the most peculiarities of buying a pet from an online store. Featured.

Advantages of buying from a pet store

Today more and more people decide to have an animal in their family. For this reason, the opening of stores where they can buy any product or service dedicated to pets is becoming more and more frequent. According to some statistics, between 40% or 50% of families have a pet, so we must know well the offers in the market to be able to give our pets the best for their health and comfort.

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Immense variety in offers

These premises, often have a huge variety of items for pets. For this reason, we can use them to obtain bags of feed for dogs of different sizes, sweets, food products, clothes for dogs, toys, cages (in the case of rodents), etc.

Unlike shopping centres and supermarkets where we find a limited amount of items for our pets. In a pet store, we can find different things more specific to your needs.

In addition, there are also offers on pets and we can find a wide variety of animal species (if the establishment is a large company). In these places, the animals are usually kept in good condition and the employees are in charge of cleaning the cages daily.

Quality Products

Also, the advantage of buying in a specialized pet store is that we can find good quality products at their price. And it is that the prices themselves are usually quite accessible.

Quality is still an important detail when purchasing a product and/or service. In these places, there are usually articles of a quality more than enough to fulfil their function.

In addition, we have the products organized according to the type of pet and this helps to find what we need and more quickly. This saves time and unnecessary wandering in the store.

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Something important to note is that the products that are sold in specialized stores are usually from recognized brands and that they will also give us a guarantee. More if it is something that our pet has to ingest.

This really is important, because we cannot give anything to our pet. They could get sick if what they eat is in bad condition and if so, we must quickly claim it from the place of purchase. But in these places, the quality of the products is taken care of.

Preparedness for customer service

Another advantage is that we can have personalized attention based on our requests. There are always people around the premises who can guide us in our purchase and tell us which product suits us best for our needs.

This is extremely important since many times we can go to these stores and not be clear about what brand or what characteristics in the article can be better for our pet. This is a great advantage of buying from these stores.

Personnel in charge of customer service are often people who love animals and spend their time learning about pets. The best advice to buy is from people with a lot of experience.

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The post 6 Benefits of Giving Your Pet a Good Food appeared first on The Petster.

Anyone who has a four-legged friend knows very well how important it is to take care of him: food for dogs and cats is today of fundamental importance to your pet’s health. The unconditional love we feel for our furry puppy pushes us to choose the best because his well-being goes hand in hand with ours. The attention we devote to choosing healthy and balanced food is one of the aspects that most influence the quality of life of domestic dogs and cats. Finding your way around the great cauldron of pet food is not easy, let’s see which are the golden rules to follow.

CAT AND DOG FOOD: HOMEMADE OR COMMERCIAL?

Regarding dogs, first of all, you need to evaluate their size, breed, age, and health conditions: based on these variants and thanks to the advice of your veterinarian, you can determine the daily intake of calories needed. For example, a small dog eats between 90 and 120 grams of food per day, while a large dog, such as the Doberman or Labrador, may need up to 800 grams of “food”.

Regardless of the individual cases, the general principle applies to every one according to which home-made food, the same one we eat to be clear, is not always healthy. Four-legged friends have nutritional needs that do not coincide with ours and the habit of offering them table scraps without discrimination can cause negative effects on their metabolism in the long run.

Let’s not forget that dogs are omnivores, they need the right amount of animal proteins but also fruit and vegetables. Among the prohibited foods are chocolate, sausages, salt, garlic, onion, grapes, and yeast. Beware also of cooked bones because they tend to break easily and therefore to be dangerous. An exclusively “do-it-yourself” diet is however possible as long as you follow the instructions of an expert. The ideal is to alternate a home diet with industrial food, such as croquettes or canned meat, complete and balanced foods.

THE BENEFITS OF CANNED FOOD

Speaking of dog and cat food, it must be considered that dog treats, or dry food, have the advantage of being easy to dose and practical to dispense, especially when you are away from home. Furthermore, thanks to their abrasive action, the croquettes contribute to the dental hygiene of our furry friends by acting as a “toothbrush”.

Many hesitations about the use of commercial dog food relate to the idea that they may contain poor raw materials and chemical additives. In reality, you need to know how to make the appropriate distinctions between the infinite proposals on the shelf and choose quality products, that is, those that contain a wide range of proteins and are enriched with digestible elements such as rice. Whether it is complete croquettes (they replace a meal and must be integrated only with water) or complementary feeds to be associated with something else, it is good to put only the right amount in the bowl, avoiding excesses. On the packages, there are nutritional tables based on weight.

However, many four-legged friends prefer wet food, canned meat bites with added vitamins and minerals: they contain more water, are tastier and more rewarding to eat but have the disadvantage of being eaten quickly and they do not play abrasive action on the teeth. A good idea is to mix the croquettes with some morsels of meat, perhaps chicken and rabbit

CAT AND DOG FOOD: WHAT TO PUT IN MICRO’S BOWL

While the dog is omnivorous, the cat has remained carnivorous: its diet must respond to a high requirement of proteins and fats of animal origin. As for Fido, even Micio’s diet cannot be a “duplicate” of ours but must be prepared by informing yourself correctly with the help of a veterinarian. The choice of products without dyes and preservatives, which prefer poultry and rabbit,   is undoubted to be preferred. Cats are fond of beef and offal and usually prefer wet food served in small morsels. In the summer, the choice of croquettes can prove to be a winner for the preservation of the product but it must be kept in mind that the croquettes are not a snack but replace a meal, therefore be careful not to exceed the doses indicated on the packaging.

Every few weeks, my exotic pet hospital in New York receives a call from a desperate exotic pet owner somewhere far away seeking advice about their sick pet. Sometimes it’s about a reptile, sometimes about a bird or bunny. The caller might be from the Midwest, Canada, or even from another continent. Unfortunately, in most cases, there is little we can recommend over the phone, and we generally advise pet-owner to take their animals to an exotic pet-savvy veterinarian to be examined. While there are several great resources online directing people to terrific local vets who are comfortable treating exotic species, for some people in certain remote locations, exotic pet veterinarians can be hard to find. What are the most important things to look for when you are seeking out care for an exotic pet vet? Here are 5 essential considerations:

1. How many (snakes, birds, ferrets, rabbits, whatever species) has this vet ever treated?

While the practice may not always make perfect, it certainly makes better. The more of any given species a veterinarian sees, the more likely that he or she is to recognize the disease and be able to recommend the appropriate treatment. Most vets receive little to no training in school on exotic animal species, so if they really want to learn about how to care for these animals, they have to seek out information on their own. These vets who take the initiative to go the extra mile to learn about exotic pets are the vets you’d want to see.

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2. Is the veterinary hospital set up to accommodate exotic pets?

While many cat and dog hospitals will see exotic pets, they often do so because they are the only game in town. Many cat and dog hospitals will only treat an exotic pet when no one else will, and the pet is really sick. You can really tell whether a veterinary hospital is set up to treat exotic pets if they have some of the basic equipment and supplies needed to do so, such as a small scale that weighs in grams for weighing little exotic pets or a tank for safely enclosing a reptile. If they have no equipment specifically designed for treating and examining typically smaller exotic patients, it is likely they don’t treat many of them.

3. Are the veterinary technicians comfortable handling exotic patients?

Knowing how to safely handle exotic pets is truly an art that takes years to master. Most exotic animals are prey species that become stressed when restrained. No matter how good a veterinarian may be at the medical care of exotic species, without great technical staff to comfortably hold these animals, that vet cannot perform great medical care. By just watching how veterinary technicians restrain and manipulate your exotic pet, you can get an idea about how often they actually handle exotic pets. Technicians and veterinarians trained in exotic pet restraint should be relaxed and have a plan on how to pick up and hold your pet. If they are floundering around trying to figure out how to catch your pet, their experience is very likely limited.

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4. Are the veterinarians and/or the veterinary staff members of any exotic pet professional organizations?

There are several professional exotic animal groups, such as the Association of Avian Veterinarians, the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians, and the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians, to which many veterinarians who are interested in exotic pet care belong. These organizations provide continuing education to veterinary professionals, and typically, individuals who want to remain knowledgeable in exotic pet care will join one or more of these groups to stay current. Veterinarians who belong to these groups typically display the organization’s logo on a decal in their hospitals’ window or printed on their hospitals’ client literature. Each of these organizations have websites, too, that list current members geographically. If a vet has taken the time and money to join any of these organizations, then he or she at least has a strong interest in exotic pets.

5. Does the veterinary hospital provide care for exotic pet emergencies?

This is something most exotic pet owners don’t think about until they are faced with their own pets’ emergency. While a few animal hospitals have veterinarians on call and technicians who remain in the hospital overnight to care for critical cases, the most veterinary hospitals are not open 24/7 but have arrangements with local 24-hour emergency clinics to care for their patients overnight and on emergency basis. However, while local emergency clinics are generally happy to take in dog and cat emergencies, they are not always equipped to handle exotic pet emergencies. When choosing an animal hospital to care for your unique exotic pet, be sure to ask the veterinary staff exactly how they handle exotic pet patients with emergencies after hours. If they have no contingency plan, they likely treat very few exotics. Just as your dog and cat vet should have a plan for after-hours emergencies, so should your exotic pet vet. This is perhaps the most important question to consider when choosing a doctor for your beloved pet. Don’t be afraid to ask it. The answer could be the difference between life and death.

When it comes to caring for your cat, I have a few simple recommendations:

• Maintain a safe environment (keep him indoors)
• Feed a high-quality food (e.g., a meat-based protein)
• Think about preventive care (e.g., an annual physical examination, laboratory tests, and the appropriate vaccines)
• Provide lots of affection and exercise

By following these basic tips, you can help keep your four-legged, feline friends healthy–potentially for decades! But as cat guardians, you should also be aware of five “silent” killers in cats. By knowing what the most common silent killers are, you can know what clinical signs to look for. With most of these diseases, the sooner the clinical signs are recognized, the sooner we veterinarians can treat them.

1. Chronic kidney disease

One of the top silent killers of cats is chronic kidney disease (CKD) (This is sometimes called a chronic renal failure or chronic kidney injury). These terms are all semantically the same, and basically mean that 75% of both the kidneys are ineffective and not working. Clinical signs of CRD include:

• Excessive drinking
• Excessive urinating
• Larger clumps in the litter box
• Weight loss
• Bad breath (due to toxins building up in the blood and causing ulcers in the mouth, oesophagus, and stomach)
• Lethargy
• Hiding

Thankfully, with appropriate management, cats can live with CKD for years (unlike dogs where CKD usually progresses more rapidly). Chronic management may include a low-protein diet, frequent blood work, increasing water intake (e.g., with a water fountain or by feeding a gruelling canned food), medications and even fluids under the skin (which many pet guardians do at home, once properly trained).

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2. Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is an endocrine disease where the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone. This is seen in middle-aged to geriatric cats and can result in very similar clinical signs to chronic kidney disease including:

• Excessive thirst
• Increased water consumption/urination
• Vomiting/diarrhoea
• Weight loss

However, as hyperthyroidism increases the metabolism of cats, it causes one defining sign: a ravenous appetite despite weight loss. It can also result in:

• A racing heart rate
• Severe hypertension (resulting in acute blood loss, neurologic signs, or even a clot or stroke)
• Secondary organ injury (e.g., a heart murmur or changes to the kidney)

Thankfully, treatment for hyperthyroidism is very effective and includes either a medication (called methimazole, surgical removal of the thyroid glands (less commonly done), a special prescription diet called y/d® Feline Thyroid Health) or I131 radioiodine therapy. With hyperthyroidism, the sooner you treat it, the fewer potential side effects or organ damage will occur in your cat.

3. Diabetes mellitus

Another costly, silent killer that affects cats is diabetes mellitus (DM). As many of our cats are often overweight to obese, they are at a greater risk for DM. With diabetes, the pancreas fails to secrete adequate amounts of insulin (Type I DM) or there is resistance to insulin (Type II DM). Insulin is a natural hormone that drives sugar (i.e., blood glucose) into the cells. As a result of the cells starving for glucose, the body makes more and more glucose, causing hyperglycemia (i.e., high blood sugar) and many of the clinical signs seen with DM. Common clinical signs for DM are similar to those of Chronic kidney disease and hyperthyroidism and include:

• Excessive urination and thirst
• Larger clumps in the litter box
• An overweight or obese body condition with muscle wasting (especially over the spine or back) or weight loss
• A decreased or ravenous appetite
• Lethargy or weakness
• Vomiting
• Abnormal breath (e.g., acetone breath)
• Walking abnormally (e.g., lower to the ground)

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Treatment for DM can be costly, as it requires twice-a-day insulin injections that you have to give under the skin. It also requires changes in diet (to a high protein, low carbohydrate diet), frequent blood glucose monitoring, and frequent veterinary visits. With supportive care and chronic management, cats can do reasonably well; however, once diabetic complications develop (e.g., diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar, hyperglycemic syndrome), DM can be life-threatening.

If your cat or dog is coughing, the good news is that it’s probably not due to COVID-19. Experts from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) agree that COVID-19 is predominantly a human illness, and it’s unlikely for pets to be infected with the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. There are many types of viruses that can make cats or dogs sick. So, your veterinarian will check your pet to make sure that the symptoms aren’t being caused by a more common virus or other health problem.

Opinions about testing pets for COVID-19 are changing as we learn more about the virus and cases around the world. Public health authorities and veterinarians are working together to determine if an animal should be tested. Right now, there’s no evidence that dogs or cats can spread the virus to people. But there is growing evidence that in rare cases people may be able to infect animals. In the past month, two dogs and a cat in Hong Kong, a cat in Belgium, and a tiger at the Bronx Zoo in New York City were found to have been infected. In each situation, there was exposure to a COVID-19 positive person.

If your cat or dog is sick, the best thing to do is speak with your veterinarian. Be sure to let them know if your pet has been exposed to anyone who has COVID-19. Your veterinarian will let you know what to do and will work with public health authorities to determine if a test is recommended.

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