The Cat News Weblog

If you are purchasing dog food from your local grocery store, you may be in for a big surprise. The one who ultimately pays for this is your canine. You may save some money upfront but the cost might be to your dog’s health. It is important that we are aware what we are feeding our animals. Their wellbeing definitely depends on it.
Popular and well known dog food manufacturers cover up brains, beaks, bowels and eyes with the all too familiar nick name of bi-products. Do you know what your pet is really eating?

Artificial ingredients are also used by well known dog food brands. This may be harmful to their health. Kibble shouldn’t be “colored” with artificial dyes like yellow # or red # or any of the dye “numbers”.
Chemical preservatives are often used in popular kibble for dogs. BHT, Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), also known as Butylhydroxytoluene and BHA, Butylated hydroxyanisole and Ethoxoquin are used as a preservative to keep the foods from going rancid. These are chemical compounds that may wreak havoc on your canine’s immune system A natural alternative like tocopherols is what you should be looking for.

Unfortunately wheat and corn are used as cheap fillers in dog food. Some manufactures actually use these as protein sources. They are often very hard for the animal to digest and can cause such allergies leaving your canine suffering with itching their ears, licking paws, hot spots, skin and coat issues and just plain old misery. These ingredients can be found in treats as well.

Large manufactures also make food in such large batched that you may never really know when the food was made or worse how fresh the food is you just purchased.
Like humans dogs are what they eat. Artificial ingredients, poor protein sources, lack of fruits and vegetables all play a part in the immune system of you canine to fight off free radicals. When food is made of poor ingredients a whole list of things can affect your dog from allergies to disease.

At first when you feed your dog inferior foods there may or may not be visible reasons to think there are issues. As time goes on scratching may appear or constant ear infections or something of that nature. Luckily you will have the choice to search for a better nutritional food in order to alleviate these issues. If left untreated your pet’s immune system could be compromised and a host of issues like kidney problems, urinary tract issues, and joint issues, lack of energy and behavior changes could start to manifest.

Lori Matthews studies health, nutrition and wellness. She enjoys writing articles on health for both people and pets. Please click here if you would like more information on Life’s Abundance healthy dog food There you will find a wealth of related information and tips.

Although you probably do keep a watchful eye on your dog or cat when outdoors, many things can happen there to separate you.  If this does take place, the proper identification will help reunite you with your beloved pet.  All in all, pets lacking good identification tags are many times mistaken as strays and they are therefore treated differently, so make certain that your dog or cat has the best kind of ID tags.  Perhaps try a sturdy, but comfortable, breakaway collar with an ID tag with your pet’s name plus your name, address and phone number.  Also, hook their rabies tag on the collar.

As certain types of collars may fall off and others break away if caught up and tangled on an object, there are other options for you to choose from, which may vary in your own particular locality. So just ask.   

Meabwhile, be on the lookout for other outside dangers. As an example, as the weather starts to heat up on us, the neighborhood appears to wake up to lawn and garden care.  Some types of mainstream commercial fertilizers and of course pesticides may be very toxic indeed to our pets, and there is indeed certain research studies which seem to suggest that the rising rate of certain cancers in canines could actually be linked to pesticides and even herbicides. Therefore, to be safe, be certain that you read and follow the directions very carefully, and be especially certain that you keep them far away from the lawn or garden until the area is fully dry.  In some cases, this could mean an entire day.  If your pet is accidentally exposed to any lawn or garden treatment, act quickly.  Wash your pet immediately with liquid dish soap and call your veterinarian.  Want a safer alternative?  Go organic.  In general, these kinds of lawn and garden treatments are safer.  However, again, please read and follow the instructions carefully.

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As I grew older and they got busier, all this stopped. Now they hardly even have the time to take me for a walk. They fill my plate with fattening treats and stuff from the table that they eat.  I’ve started putting on weight in my waist and hips. Earlier, I could sit back on my legs. Now, due to my weight, I slouch to the side. My chest hurts now and I have a hard time breathing too. My owners no longer take care of the quality of my food. They just get any dog food and pay no attention to the nutrients. Most of the dog foods are laden with fat and as a result I have developed lots of fatty tissues in my body.  It is harder to walk these days as my legs ache from the extra pounds.  I get out of breathe so easily now.  My chances for disease are now increased as a result of the obesity.  I wanted to help you learn to take care of your pets so that they will remain healthy, agile and have long lives.   

Although fat dogs may seem cute, there could be a host of issues going on.  Joint or locomotion difficulties, extra pounds put added stress on joints, bones, ligaments and muscles.  Heart and respiratory disease, heart and lungs have to work harder to provide adequate oxygen and circulation. Also, extra fat in the chest cavity and around the heart muscle can decrease the efficiency of the heart and lungs.  Diabetes, just like people, diabetes is much more common in obese dogs and cats.   Liver disease, obese animals are prone to liver disease. Heat intolerance, excessive fat has insulating properties that makes obese animals uncomfortable and unable to tolerate heat.  Skin problems, overweight animals often have trouble grooming themselves. The rolls of skin built up by fat deposits can often harbor dirt, bacteria and other harmful organisms.  Gastrointestinal disorder, Pancreatitis is seen all too often in obese dogs. This condition is painful and life threatening.

Here are a few ways in which you can care for your dog so that they have a longer and better life:

1. Do not allow let your pet become a couch potato. Take him out for a run everyday at least for 20 minutes otherwise he will put on weight.

2. Pay attention to the diet: Sometimes the printed dog food labels do not tell the entire story.  Make sure that your canine friend has a diet rich in meat, vegetables and healthy ingredients.  If you have started a weight loss food for dogs, make sure it is healthy.  Don’t sacrifice nutrition at a time when the dog needs it the most as the weight comes off.

3. Exercise: If you find that you can’t take your dog out for a walk, then get a ball to throw a ball so that he can run and retrieve it.

4. Play: Dog love to play and enjoy your attention. Play games like racing, wrestling or fetch to burn calories.

5. Winter months: In the winter months if it becomes quite difficult to exercise with your dog, try to find indoor games.

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Obesity, whether in humans or dogs can lead to a decreased life span.

Lori Matthews studies health, nutrition and wellness. She enjoys writing articles on health for both people and pets. Please visit her site for more information

As a dog-owner, have you ever thought twice about the actual nutritional value of the food and treats you are feeding your dog? If you are concerned about the health of your pet and loyal companion, you should be more aware of what the ingredients are in the dog food and products that you buy. Sadly, the labels of most commercial dog foods don’t tell the whole truth about what they contain and unfortunately some can contain what I like to call useless fillers. Yes, many people feed their dog not so healthy food and they don’t even realize it.

Dog food production has ‘developed’ in the past few decades but the life-span of these beloved animals have gotten shorter in contrast. Additional details may be found over at Premium Dog Food from Life’s Abundance brand The reason: because these ‘developments’ actually benefit commercial dog food manufacturers more than they do the dogs. It means using poor-quality and even toxic ingredients to ensure cheaper costs of production and longer shelf life. It means very poor nutrition for your pet so that these companies can make higher profits.

The truth about most available dog products is that they are made from low-grade grains, unthinkable meat by-products and artificial preservatives that are not fit for humans and pets to eat. For instance, substitution for meat protein and good carbohydrates are often done with poor-quality grain meals using soybean, corn, gluten, and wheat. These ingredients in fact commonly cause allergies in pets. Meanwhile, the meat ingredients typically used can include unwanted body parts of animals like the neck, head, guts, feet, lungs, and bones. Even harder to the stomach is that these can come from animals that are diseased, dying or already dead and decaying. All of these are mercilessly dumped, ground and mixed into a more acceptable form called ‘meal’ and made into dog food.

To add to this already unhealthy mix, chemical ingredients used by dog food manufacturers have been found to cause early dog deaths due to heart disease, kidney failure and certain cancers. So why pay for junk that will eventually kill your dog? 

Dogs age much faster than humans and they require the same quality of nutrition as ours. Naturally, like any other kind of animal, a dog needs fresh and healthy food too. The ideal diet for your pet should consist of high-quality protein, carbohydrates, natural fats, fiber, and even antioxidants. Chicken and fish are good sources of protein that you can look for in dog food. Eggs also provide protein, amino acids, biotin, sulfur, as well as vitamins A, B, E, and K. For carbohydrates, brown rice is an easily digestible carb-source that is now being used as a dog food ingredient.

A new advancement in health food for dogs now includes antioxidants in the ingredients, specifically from whole foods like apples, carrots, celery, spinach, alfalfa leaf, and garlic. Grape seed extract is also being used for its antioxidants that may help slow down your dog’s aging and to keep its immune system strong. This new kind of dog food likewise has beet pulp, which is a source of fiber and the short chain fatty acids needed by good bacteria in the digestive tract. Lactobacillus acidophilus in this dog food similarly aids digestion by encouraging the growth of helpful bacteria.

By providing this kind of nutritious dog food, you can ensure that your pet will live healthier and stay by your side longer.

During the recent wave of fires that engulfed huge swathes of California’s forests and neighborhoods, thousands of animals were displaced.  One organization took the lead in protecting the surviving animals, including cows, donkeys, horses, sheep, chickens and goats.  They provided veterinary care and food, not only for these animals, but also for the dogs and cats that escaped with their families to temporary shelters.  This same organization provided care for thousands of animals in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

While we have focused on cat and dog rescue groups thus far, we plan to expand our funding to organizations providing care for a wide range of animals as well, including horses, cows, goats, ferrets, monkeys and others.  We’re committed to giving much needed help to the small rescues, as they do so much with so few resources.

And best of all, every time you purchase a HealthyPetNet product, a portion of the profits are contributed to a fund that supports the operations of this organization.  So, thank you so much for your continued business!  Together, we’re making a positive difference in the world, one animal at a time. Mpre information can be found at Healthy Pet Net

Your animals are an integral  part of your family and you want them to live a long and very healthy life.  For example, your dog is always there for you, ready to play and always loyal. He or she relies on you, as their owner, to take care of them, give them a warm place to sleep, water to drink and healthy dog food to eat.  They are not able to choose what is best for them. Visit Premium Dog food from Life’s Abundance for more detailsAre you looking to buy the generic brand to save a few dollars?  Are all dog foods the same?  The answer is no, they’re not.  There are so many ingredients put into dog food that you can’t even pronounce.  Saving a few dollars now could cost you later at the vet’s office when your baby starts to have some health issues.  Surprisingly some premium pet foods are comparable in price because you actually feed less as they are more nutrient dense than their cheap counterparts.  So many dog foods have mainly fillers that they label as protein.  They are things such as soybean meal, corn meal, corn gluten meal, and maize wheat.  These may be sources of protein, but they are not enough for your dog’s health. They need meat.  There are also food colorings in dog food, and oddly enough, the dogs don’t care what color the food is, all the marketing is for us, the pet owner.  Food dyes can be made from chemicals.  There have been many dog trainers that correlate food dye with hyperactive dogs, as it has been associated with hyperactive children.   Chemical preservatives like BHA and BHT should not be on the ingredient list and should be avoided.Another form the pet food manufacturers use is the by-product protein.  These include necks, feet, intestines, lungs, ligaments, head and undeveloped eggs.   Some pet foods contain no active cultures and other digestive aids. This is why some dogs have bloating, gas and bowel issues.  Without this very important ingredient you pet might not be absorbing what nutrition is in the food! In the long run this can be very unhealthy.

House training is a major pet issue which is often overlooked nowadays. The first step is to remember to feed your pet on a normal schedule. Don’t free feed by leaving food out all day or a full dog food bowl. This will keep your pups system in constant function. There will never be times his system is empty and it becomes impossible to control the bathroom times. If your pup has a gassy belly or lose stools or poops more than 3-4 times a day, you may want to look at changing food. Another thing to consider about food is the amount of filler in the form of wheat and corn. Too much filler and the pup will have to go frequently. The best foods have no corn or wheat in them. Take your puppy out first thing in the morning. Take him to your specified location designed for potty time. Give him 15 minutes to go. If he does not go in that time, bring him back in and place in the crate. • Too much time waiting for him to go and he will not know what he is suppose to do outside. Making the process less important. • Bathroom runs should take precedent over every thing else. No play is important to keeping your pup from becoming too distracted and forgetting why he is out there. • You do not want to give your pup the benefit of the doubt and guess maybe he just doesn’t have to go. • Placing him back in the crate removes the option of going in the house and teaches him there is a task first. • Not allowing him free access will keep him from going where ever and when ever he wants. You will only be leaving him there for about 5-10 minutes, then take him back out again. Repeat this until he goes outside. Your time schedule will tell you what he should be doing at what time. Once he goes outside, tell him “Good Boy” in very pleased tone (because you really are) and bring him back into the house. At this time he gets free time, fed and played with for 20-30 minutes. Then back into the crate. Set your timer to alert you to the next out time. This way if you get busy and forget, the timer will remind you. Set the timer to as close as possible for the next “out” time. Your time frame will tell you what this should be. Do not give the pup treats for going outside. Many dogs do will not understand what they are being treated for and think being outside or coming back in is what get them the treat. These dogs grow up to be very annoying door dogs, barking to go and come in a hundred times a day just to get a treat. His reward is free time in the house. He will learn that going outside gets him free time, not going outside removes him from the house. The pup will understand what gets his four paws in the house and what does not!

As a pet professional your opinion counts.  If your client asks for product recommendations you probably suggest high quality and health promoting ones.  

This article is for any groomer, breeder, pet sitter/walker, veterinarian, kennel owner, trainer, shelter worker or animal rescue who would like to earn ongoing income on those product recommendations while truly making a difference in pets’ lives.   To suggest health promoting products while earning ongoing income is a win win.   

Many people don’t know what’s actually in their pet’s products.  This ranges from the food and treats as well as bones and supplements.   With the recent pet food recall it’s no wonder pet parents went crazy looking for alternatives and alternatives that were healthier.   

We carry a premium line of products that contain high quality ingredients all from the

In the most appalling pet news since the Michael Vick story broke, Georgia authorities claim that Tye Hilmo, 21, of Dacula trapped neighborhood cats and fed them to his pit bull. The Georgia Police Department charged Hilmo with aggravated animal cruelty. This is a felony which carries a sentence of 1-5 years in jail and a substantial fine as well.
 He has been in the Gwinnett County Jail, with no bond permitted, since deputies searched his house on September 10. They found 2 lbs of marijuana, a few firearms plus 2 feline bodies in his yard, according to police.
In addition, his  mobile telephone had a grisly picture of a canine eating a kitten above a line that reads, “Good dog”, the report states.
At first, the Police officers assigned to the case charged the suspect with some offenses pertaining to the guns and narcotics. But they then tacked on the cruelty to animals charges 2 days ago. It should be noted, however, that some of his neighbors are a bit skeptical of the latter charges.
“He drinks and he is loud…… no question about that,” said Tim Johnson, 31, a neighbor. But he stated that Hilmo really adored animals. He stated that he found these charges “really hard to believe.”
Samson and stepdaughter Ashley McIlvainey, 18, said they are not sure that Hilmo is to blame.
“Tye is a really sweet person. He’s like my brother,” McIlvainey said. “I honestly do not think he did it.

Hyperthyroidism has become an oft-diagnosed sickness in felines in recent years, unfortunately.  New research studies appear to implicate an environmental source, according to the September 2007 Healthy Pet Net newsletter.Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, also known as PBDE’s, are chemicals used only in recent years as a flame retardant. It has have been proven to cause injury to the feline nervous system, while also interfering with the production of various hormones.
Scientists are worried that these chemicals may also lead to similar symptoms in humans as well.
Although they have now been eliminated from current production, many products which contain them, such as fabrics, furniture, foams, some plastics and other items, nonetheless still have them, sadly enouph.
The evidence appears to indicate that if your cat or kitten is suffering from hyperthyroidism, it may be because of an object in your huse – one that could be removed, and perhaps decrease the severity of the illness.