Your Pets Seasonal Coat Health
Filed under: General Pet News — iselyfeline @ 8:45 pm
This article orginally appeared in part of the October 2008 Healthy Pet net newsletter and was written by holistic et Dr. Jane Bicks:
As we moe into the wintertime, most of us will be turning up the heat. Sadly however, heated houses are quite often too dry, which may lead to ultra skin. This constant dryness can sometimes cause skin cells to die out at an increased rate. When you notice dandruff, which is the sloughing off of clumps of dead skin cells, this is a clear sign of this type of overly dry skin. The hair of the coat also dries out, leading to increased shedding.
To fight the constant dryness, consider using a humidifier during the months that you use central heat. Humidifiers, which are broadly available these days, may cure this issue swiftly and on the relative cheap. The use of a humidifier will not only help the skin and coat of your dog or cat, it could help to improve the health of your own skin as well.
As has been mentioned in earlier articles, various nutritious cat foods such as Life’s Abundance and Instinctive Choice can go a long way to improving the health of the coat and the skin, which is the body’s largest organ. Life’s Abundance is in fact a truly Premium Cat Food ….As a matter of fact, most of the protein content cats eat goes to help support the skin and coat – over 90%. Adding a nutritional daily supplement like Life’s Abundance Wellness Food Supplement to your cat’s diet can also provide much needed aid in keeping the coat lustrous and the skin pliable and healthy, all winter long. It is so important to go with a real premium cat food.
February 24, 2009
Your Pets Seasonal Coat Health
Has someone been “Putting on the Dog”
The phrase, “putting on the dog” refers to individuals who try to appear either rich or more important than they truly are. If you were to walk down the dog food aisle in a supermarket or pet store, the front of the bags would sound very impressive, assuring you of total nutrition for every stage of a dog’s life. Yet in reality, many of these particular dog food firms are grossly guilty of “putting on the dog”. Before you put anything “in” your dog, flip those bags of dog food over to read the label a little more carefully.
Do you wish your dog to be well, obedient and live to a ripe old age? Researchers concluded that dogs have the potential to live to twenty years, but really, the vast majority of dog companions struggle to get past the ten-year point. As a matter of fact, Vets are seeing an increasing amount of heart and respiratory disease, joint problems and other ailments. These particular shelters are chock full of dogs that left their “forever homes” since they exhibited hostile and even violent behavior.
All of these specific wellness issues may have a strong basis in the type and quality of food these dogs have been given. Premium is of course better than the more mainstream type brands, as the pet food recall confirmed. It is not enough to simply fill up a bowl with any kind of dog food so your pet does not get hungry. Dog owners should really evaluate what is going into the dog’s dish as those ingredients may mean a better life or one that is filled with health and wellness issues. Purchase a premium dog food. Usually, this type of food is not sold in supermarkets and not even at your veterinarian’s office.
Before making a selection of dog food, turn the bags over and read the list of ingredients. If more than 2 of them contain grain products, like corn or wheat, the food is mostly vegetable protein, which provides less in the way of nutritional value.
In addition, if the bag lists “by-products” it’s best to simplyleave it on the shelf. By-products of animals can mean the head, feet and intestines. There is practically zero nutritional value in this ingredient. Look for chicken “meal” or lamb “meal” which does indeed provide a much greater degree of animal protein. Also, avoid foods that contain preservatives, like BHT or BHA. They can be harmful to your pet’s health. Canned food very often has more preservatives because they are needed to keep the food fresh. Furthermore, canned food has a much high water content and that should be considered in your dog food buying decision, especially if you live in the more humid climates like Florida, Georgia or Alabama. Dogs often do very well on dry dog food alone, and the crunching action helps keep their teeth cleaner.
If you want to give your dogs treats, the same rules apply. Check the list of ingredients. Try not to get your dog “hooked” on cheap treats with no nutritional value because that may make it difficult to offer a premium dog food that is not artificially enhanced with flavor additives.
Lori Matthews studies health, nutrition and wellness. She enjoys writing articles on health for both people and pets. You may click here if you would like more information on premium dog food There is also a lot of additional useful information there such as an FAQ and dog food comparision chart as well.
Finding a Healthy Dog Food
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. Try to obtain a premium dog food
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.
Help Me Be Healthy, Help Me Live Longer-Letter from a fat puppy
WOOF WOOF!! BOW WOW!! Oops sorry! I did not realize I was talking to you guys and not my friend Rusty. Hi, I am Bruno, the
Labrador. I am 5 years old. It seems my dad and mom are quite busy these days with work and things that seem to never get done. Initially the whole family was crazy about me. They used to take me for walks and runs. They used to show me off to neighbors and friends. More details about this as well as premium grade dog food may be found at healthy weight loss food for dogs
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.
. 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
Premium Dog food news
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.
News about Animal Charities
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. More information can be found at Healthy Pet Net
How to Take care of your animal when you are gone
The initial thing you need to know about providing for your dog, cat or other pet when you inevitably pass away is that nobody, including a very wealthy person, can leavefunds directly to their pet in their will.
They are simply not allowed to own property in any way, shape or form.
However, you can create a trust for your animal if you so desire. And you do not have to be rich to do it, either.
In broad terms, A trust splits the financial and caregiver roles, which can have advantages over leaving money directly.
You see, Leaving money to a friend to care for a pet sets up a conflict between the pet and the money, according to an attorney who deals in this kind of thing.
The court simply might refuse to enforce the mandate to care for the animal, and then the funds will still belong to the “caretaker”
By way of comparison, trusts separate the function of the trustee - who handles the money - and the caretaker of the animal in question. This makes it much, much easier to resolve certain specific types of issues which can come up from time to time,
such as selecting an alternative caretaker if needed.
Another benefit of a trust is that a will simply does not take effect until after your death, and of course after probate as well. A trust, in contrast, becomes effective the moment it is made. What that means is a trust can care for your animal if you are alive but are somehow incapacitated.
All in all, regulations for trusts vary depending on the state involved. Fortunately, most states have laws which specifically recognize pet trusts. In any event, an attorney may create one using the laws of another state.
When setting up a particular trust, realize the current expenses for the care of your animal - difficulties may be caused by leaving too much money or too little. Also realize ahead of time exactly what particulars you want to be contained in the agreement in question.
The various responsibility of trustee can usually be handled by a bank, so the primary consideration is in the actual process of selecting a caretaker. Be cognizent of the life expectancy of the animals and caregiver alike.
Obviously, the life spans of the different types of animals can vary greatly.
Finding the ideal Cat
Even though cats my generally be a low-maintenance animal (relatively speaking), they nonetheless do need some time and care from their owners.
Though may not have to be taken out for a walk per say, they still need a substantial commitment from you so always keep that in mind when you are planning on adopting one.
It is easy to make an emotional or impulsive choice here because Baby animals, and particularly a innocent-eyed kittens, may be virtually impossible to pass up.
If you happen to be looking at a kitten you should certainly consider that it is a stimuli-seeking little bundle of energy, which is somewhat of a contrast from the rather composed demeanor of certain adult cats.
That is just the reality here, but I personally love adult cats too so it ultimately depends on your expectations.
But of course, even an adult cat will need a considerable amount of attention. All felines are avid scratchers so it is very important to provide natural type surfaces so that this normal, instinctive behavior does not turn out to be a destructive and irritating one.
Also note that different types of cats bring different attributes to the mix.
For example, Persians cats are usually more laid back while Orientals a lot more active as well as being vocal.
Purebreds are sometimes prone to have certain genetic disorders, so be sure to ask questions if using a breeder. As a general rule of thumb, pet stores are not the best location to buy a cat due to possible genetic complications, not to mention the relative lack of socialization that most felines obtain in pet stores.
Also be aware of the fact that Purebred kittens can be every bit as expensive as their canine counterparts, usually from between five and eight hundred dollars. An adoption is considerable less expensive at about fifty dollars or so. But keep in mind that these starting costs are actually quite small when compared to the long-term
expense of food, grooming, toys, kitty litter and eventual veternary visits. In fact any planning about bringing a cat into your household should realistically keep in mind the recurring costs of pet ownership.
if you happen to live in the northern parts of the United States, cats will breed during the spring & summer months, therefore late summer and fall is an ideal time of the year to adopt an animal.
Also keep in mind that you can cut down on veternarian visits later if you feed your cat a premium grade cat food from the outset.
The recent pet food recalls have highlighted just how bad mainstream brands can be. I recommend a holistic brand such as Premium Cat Food from Life’s Abundance and Dr. Jane.
And finally, it is vital to be very patient if you are truly looking for that special friend to bring into your household and be part of your family.
Cats also rely on movement for their memory
According to a story which ran in ‘The Gateway’ (from journalist Allison Graham),
the latest research seems to suggest that cat memory is largely molded not so much by sight but by action.
This is a discovery of profound performance.
Canadian researcher Keir Pearson analyses the way in which our brains control how we know where an object is in relation to our physical bodies.
The experimental concept of testing
whether a cat has to perform an action or can merely see an object to remember it is one of the primary emphasis of Neurophysiology as a discipline.
The initial experiment which she attempted was composed of a cat stepping over an object with its front legs. It was then distracted with food for as long as possible while straddling the barrier. She then removed the object in question while the cat was eating,
and then got the cat to continue to move forward. Each time this test was performed, the cat moved forward by raising its hind legs as if stepping over the obstacle in the experiment.
Later on the feline was brought to the object so that it could see it but not step over it. If the cat was distracted for a shorter time span, it would still remeber it and lift its hind legs as done in the initial experiment.
Because of the results in these particular tests, researchers have additional ideas regarding how these discoveries will benefit individuals. She explained that this study aids us in comprehending certain things about our own behaviour. For example, how we can go down stairs without actually needing to see them,
to being able to find where we parked our automobiles in a big parking lot, and so on.
Much more relevent, perhaps, are the possibilities of what this research may do for our own wellness generally. Individuals with cognitive disorders, for instance cannot keep track of objects in their environment.
They ” might be able to develop some sort of test to see whether there’s a memory decline in these patients to do with knowledge of where objects are”.
Another Pet Food Recall
Vets across the nation are warning dog owners that their beloved animals may be at risk of sickness from
certain jerky treats which are being produced in, guess where? Yes, you know, in China.
I’m sure that you were shocked. You know, the quality of the goods from that country is just first rate,
is it not? Just 6 months ago, tainted pet food made from Chinese ingredients sickened and killed dogs and cats alike and led to a huge nationwide recall.
More recently, however, vets have noticed troubling cases of dogs becoming ill after eating Chinese-made jerky treats. The symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea and also lethargy.
There have been no fatalities yet, luckily.
The AVMA has been kind enouph to post an alert on their website. It hopes to gather data swiftly from members on whether or not there is an issue and how big it really is. It is recommended that you use a premium dog food
The organization is advising owners to “use their best judgment.”
The FDA is cognizent of customer complaints related particularly to the chicken jerky treats and is vigourously investigating the issue, Michael Herndon stated.
The agency is testing many samples of jerky treats for pets for various chemical and microbiological contaminants such as melamine, the industrial chemical that led to the pet-food recall earlier in 2007.
To this point, it has not detected any contaminants.
No other types of pet treats have been implicated t this point in time. No list of brand or product names of the affected treats is currently available. The Pet Food Institute, an industry organization, is not cognizent
of any issues with pet treats, spokesman Kurt Gallagher said.