Cat Health – Dog Health – Pet Clothes |

When you think about it, what does your dog need from its food in order to be healthy?

Today our pets have a wide variety to meet their tastes and needs and we have our choice of what kind of food we can choose to feed them. Despite the variety, pet foods usually fall into three major categories. These categories are: Grocery store foods, these types of dog and pet foods are usually found in grocery stores and mass marketed retailers and can contain lower quality, less expensive ingredients. The second category is “premium dog foods,” which can also be found in grocery’s stores but are also found in pet stores and through your local veterinarian’s office.

These types of foods are usually made from some higher quality ingredients and are usually made evident by the expense of the food. Some of these pet foods though can contain lower quality ingredients that you aren’t aware of. The third and final category is healthy dog foods which are a relatively new addition and make use of the latest research into the best foods and blends for your pet.

So what is best for our pet and how do we choose the proper dog food?

Quality, healthy ingredients make quality, healthy dog food. Nutrition is important no matter whether you’re a person or a pet. Pets, just like humans, need good nutrition not just to survive but to truly be healthy. They need good quality protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and fats. This is where premium, healthy dog food can benefit your pets.

Typically, healthy dog food contains quality protein, good quality carbohydrates and fiber, natural fats and preservatives. The protein does not come from dead or diseased animals and you will never see the word by-product on the label. By-products (feet, bones intestines, etc) are inferior protein sources that are sometimes used and can be very hard for your dog to digest. Less digestion means less nutritious and therefore not as healthy. Quality protein helps build and maintain muscle strength.

If you see corn, soy or wheat used as protein sources instead of meat, you now know your pet isn’t getting healthy dog food. Good quality carbohydrates give your pet the energy to be active. Good fiber sources help promote a healthy digestive system and colon. Quality fats from animal sources contain omega fatty acids that benefit the skin and coat.

Believe it or not dog food manufacturers that label their bags “premium food” use these ingredients as well as chemical preservatives and artificial colors that can be harmful to pets.

Benefits beyond healthy nutrition

When your pet is eating right, it feels better, giving you a happy and more playful companion, fewer trips to the vet, and less wasted food. Ultimately, giving your pet better food might seem expensive initially, but keeping your pet healthy saves you money, time and expense in the long run. Healthy, premium dog food can possibly extend the life of your pet giving you more quality years together.

Lori Matthews
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/what-does-your-dog-food-need-to-be-healthy-113526.html

looking for vitamins that they sell at a local pet store like petsmart, pet co. , ect. Looking for a good pill that covers everything for my two big dogs (50-70 lbs) .

If you’re feeding your dogs one of the top quality dog foods, they don’t really need vitamins. However, if there’s something specific your dogs need, there’s a great book out there called "Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats". In there, you can read about every supplement you could possibly give a dog, what they do and how much to give. I was reading this book in my vet’s office and bought a copy for myself when I decided I was going to start feeding them home-made, fresh food using the recipes in the book.

Every year, thousands of families bring their pets along on their vacations. Some feel as if their pets are part of their families, and don’t want to leave them behind. For others, there is simply no one at home to watch the pet, no funds available for boarding, or the trip was a spur-of-the-moment plan and there was no time to consider anything else except to bring the pet along.

Of course before you head out the door with your pet, there are some things to consider like accommodations, because not all hotels, motels, campgrounds and other lodgings accepts pets. So go through this checklist before you hit the road so you don’t have to leave your cat or dog in an unsafe environment.

Do Some Research & Confirmation Work

Check popular campground guidebooks, hotel, motel and other lodge listing research work to see which places accept pets. Then call ahead to confirm, as most print publications went to press at least a year ahead of time, and places may have changed hands or ownership status along with their pet policies. Find out if the location charges extra per night, plus if there are deposits and if there are any size requirements (for example, do they accept large dogs).

Portable Pet Kennels

Many pets ride fine in automobiles. However, some do not. Plus you may be traveling part way by airplane, bus or other means, and not only that, once you reach your destination, pet kennels turn into pet beds, making safe havens for your furry friends each night away from home. So you might want to check out portable pet kennels.

For airline travel with pets, call ahead to the specific airlines you’ll be using for exact details and requirements for traveling with pets. On some fights, you need to have given your animal food and water roughly 2 hours before take off, so you’ll want to check for exact details to see what your pet will need and the size carrier that’s allowed, etc. Some smaller ones for cats and small dogs may be allowed under the seat, so ask.

Fido’s Belongings

When you are vacationing with your cat or dog, pack a favorite toy or two, blanket or pillow, and any special things it may need, just as you would your own. Don’t forget some pet food, of course, plus some snacks or treats. And if your pet may need medication of any kind, bring along any medicines and / or any Pet Vitamins, etc. that might be needed. And as an added precaution, bring along the phone number of your vet, in case there is an emergency.

Dawn Orbeck
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/tips-for-traveling-with-pets-135554.html

They say we are what we eat. This applies to your pet as much as it applies to yourself. A good diet means less health problems, less trips to the vet and lower veterinary bills. But how much thought have you given to what your cat should be eating to maintain optimum health? Ask yourself the following questions.

1) How many times a day do you feed your cat?

Since cats cannot be exercised like dogs can, the only way you can influence your cats weight is by controlling the amount and type of food he or she eats. If the cat is being fed individual meals several times daily, there is often a tendency by the owner to offer the daily supply of food on several occasions rather than divide up the daily feed into several meals. This can also occur with cats fed dry food ad lib. Cats usually regulate their food intake, but continual exposure to large quantities of food may lead to over-eating and subsequent obesity if too many calories are consumed. In short, both several individual meals a day and ad lib feeding are fine, it is the total amount offered per 24 hour period which is the important figure.

Kittens should be fed small meals at regular intervals due to their tiny stomachs. Four or five meals are recommended at eight weeks of age, decreasing to two at six months of age.

2) Is your cats diet manufactured specifically for cats or do you give human food?

Some cat owners like to spoil their cat by feeding them human food as the bulk of their diet. Others have tried feeding their cat regular catfood, but find their fussy cat will not touch it, and prefers to wait for the inevitable human food offering, which soon becomes the staple diet.

Is it really unhealthy to feed cats human food though? Of course it depends what food. Remember that cats are carnivores, and require a high proportion of meat in their diet. They simply cannot adapt to a low protein diet, and will lose bodyweight if deprived of it. In fact, as a species they are relatively unique… a deficiency of the amino acid, arginine, in a single meal can lead to symptoms of lethargy, hypersalivation and vocalisation. Arginine is required by the cat to produce urea, a waste product resulting from the breakdown of protein.

Another essential nutrient for the cat is the amino acid, taurine, which the cat cannot manufacture sufficiently by itself to meet its needs. The cat’s diet must therefore contain taurine in sufficient quantities. If a deficiency develops there is a high risk of serious and irreversible damage to major organs such as the heart and the eye. Taurine is found almost entirely in meat, confirming the fact that the cat is a compulsory carnivore.

Another disease of nutritional origin is that caused by cats eating raw liver regularly, who can suffer from a condition called hypervitaminosis A. Cats suffering from this can present with signs of lethargy, unthriftiness, a stiff neck and other skeletal problems. To play it safe, do not feed your cat liver more than once a week.

Reputable cat foods are formulated after extensive trials by pet food companies to provide the mixture of protein, carbohydrate and fat that suits feline physiology best. It is easier, cheaper and possibly more healthy for your cat to be fed a reputable cat food diet, with occasional treats if desired (tuna, liver etc).

3) Which is better out of dry cat food or wet cat food?

Most vets recommend complete dry biscuit based cat food. This is because studies have shown that cats on dry food diets are less likely to suffer from dental disease than those on wet food from a tin or pouch. The physical motion of biting these biscuits helps prevent tartar from adhering to the surface of the tooth. However, even cats with no teeth can eat biscuit based food without a problem, as they just scoop up the biscuits with their tongue and swallow them whole. Another advantage of dry food is that it does not spoil as quickly which is useful for cats that are fed ad lib.

There are occasionally reasons why a wet food is preferable, as a method to increase the water consumption in a cat with a urinary problem such as cystitis.

4) Which is the best cat food to choose?

There are so many different brands of cat food on the market, the best one is basically a matter of opinion. Certainly palatability is a factor, there is no point in purchasing a particular food if your cat cannot stand it, although this is occasionally a necessity in cats requiring prescription diets. Rather than recommending you a specific brand, we suggest that you choose one which adheres to the criteria below.

Cat foods labeled as complete and balanced must meet standards established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), either by meeting a nutrient profile or by passing a feeding trial. There are now two separate nutrient profiles for cats – one for growth (kittens) and one for maintenance (adults). Maximum levels of intake of some nutrients have been established for the first time because of the concern that overnutrition, rather than undernutrition, is a bigger problem with many pet foods today. The standards include recommendations on protein, fat, fat soluble vitamins, water soluble vitamins, and mineral content of foods. If you are prepared to get technical, you should choose a food that comes closest to AAFCO recommendations.

In summary, consider the following points:

Choose a food that suits your cats age. Most big pet food companies will have different foods for kittens vs adults. Cats with medical conditions may be recommended special prescription diets.

Choose a food that come closest to AAFCO recommendations.

The ingredients contains the truth about a particular food. Everything else is there only for marketing purposes.

There are no legal and scientific definitions for the terms “premium,” “super premium,” “quality,” or “natural.”

Use dry matter numbers to evaluate and compare foods.

The source of ingredients (e.g. animal vs vegetable) does not matter, except in the case of food allergies.

Avoid supplementation. All commercial cat foods have more than enough protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals. Feeding your cat a good food incorrectly can lead to significant problems.

5) My cat is overweight, but no matter how hard I try I cannot get him to lose weight. What can I do?

Your cat is almost certainly being fed too much. Below some common mistakes are listed. Have a good look at these and make sure none of them could apply to your cat.

Not following the guidelines on the packet when measuring a portion. Most cat foods will have a table on the packaging suggesting daily portions for cats of different weights. The weight of food suggested is per 24 hrs, not per portion! Use your kitchen weighing scales to measure out the portion until you are sure of the correct amount.

Using a complete dry diet as a replacement for regular biscuits, and mixing it with wet cat food. If it says complete, you should not mix it with anything or you will overfeed.

Offering inappropriate food that is high in fat, or cream/full fat milk to drink.

Several members of the household feeding the cat at different times, whenever the cat is meows for food.

Giving the cat regular treats in addition to its main meal.

The cat is getting fed by neighbors, who think they are being kind by feeding it and enjoy the attention it gives them.

The cat is scavenging food from outside sources, such as other peoples bins.

The cat is part of a multi-cat household and is stealing food from the other cat(s), or even the dog.
Keep an open mind. If there is a possibility that any of the above scenarios might be the case with your cat, investigate it. If you are still at a loss, consider starting a prescription diet (see below).

6) I have heard you can get special light diets, or prescription diets for fat cats. Do they really work?

Yes they do, if used properly. These types of cat food are available in complete wet (tinned or pouches) form or dry (biscuit) form, and are growing in popularity amongst conscientious pet owners. They are low in calories and high in fibre, and often contain high levels of L-carnitine. L-carnitine has been used to help with fat metabolism in other species and recent scientific work indicates that it helps reduce weight in overweight dogs and cats. The real benefit of these low calorie diets though is that because of its low calories, cats can still eat reasonable sized portions and therefore feel full. This means they are more content and less likely to beg and look for extra food.
These diets are perfectly healthy for normal sized cats to eat too, so if you have a multi cat household and it is unfeasible to separate the cats during feeding time, you can safely feed all of the cats the prescription diet together.

7) Where can I buy this low calorie food from?

Many of the big pet food companies are waking up to the problem of pet obesity, and adding light versions to their range. However, they are unlikely to be as effective as the traditional prescription diets that are on the market.

They are known as prescription diets, because they are a specialist food normally prescribed by a veterinarian. However, you do not need a prescription to buy the food as it is a general sales list product. These foods are rarely available in supermarkets as many supermarkets are keen to sell their own brand, or have deals with the big pet food manufacturers. Many owners but their prescription diet from their veterinary clinic for convenience, whilst others prefer to shop around to get the best price. Many online pharmacies and pet stores are now offering these prescription foods, but whilst they may appear cheaper online, watch out for delivery charges added on top.

Matthew Homfray
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/does-your-cat-have-a-healthy-diet-111237.html

i live in the el cajon area in san diego and i want to know what is a good petstore to get vitamins for my dogs coat and what kind of vitamins. my pup is a little over a year old and is an Americam "Pit Bull" Terrier (white). love him to death, and im not looking for people who will jugde me on my dog so if you can read this question is for grown ups, thank you..

Feed your dog one raw egg a day.
You will see a big difference in his coat after a short time.

I give my dogs all type of stuff to keep their coats shiny.

And honestly all my dogs have such shiny coats it looks like their coats are waxed 24/7

So you’re thinking about venturing out on your next trip with Fido? Sounds like a fun idea, but unless you’re well prepared, you may end up wishing you had left him at home.

But don’t get discouraged; traveling with pets is becoming as commonplace as traveling with children. In a sense, they really are our children. We feed them, clean up after them, groom them, praise them, and love them… why shouldn’t we take them along?

Problem is, some folks think just letting the family dog jump in the back seat is all it takes. Never mind securing that loved one in a car seat or harness like we do Junior. Why not? Okay, I’ll ask it again… why not?

In case of a sudden stop or crash, what happens? Oops. Or big OOPS, depending on the size of your pooch. He could cause a serious injury or even death to you or one of your passengers if he becomes a projectile. Why take the risk?

Making the best of pet travel begins with planning. You must first think about what it is you’re doing, where you’re going, how you’re going to get there, what you need… you know, like you do when you take a trip by yourself or with friends or family. Don’t exclude your pet’s needs and essentials just because… what, he’s a pet?

What vitamins or meds will he need? What about food, treats and water? Yes, it’s always a good idea to have a supply of good, cold water with you. Sometimes you just can’t just find water anywhere when you need to stop.

Do you have a car seat for the pet to see out (mainly for smaller pets) or a harness or seat belt? What about emergency contacts like vet phone numbers or a pet hospital near where you are traveling? In case you become separated, did you remember his ID tag? How else will anyone know to whom your four-legged child belongs? A travel ID tag is also becoming more popular that lists the contact information of where you’re planning to stay when you get to your destination or a cell phone number that could easily track you down in the event you get separated from your pet.

One of the most comforting things a pet can have with him is something familiar like a favorite toy or blanket. Remember how Junior is? By the way, did you remember his, too?

How about a portable exercise pen? Aunt Sally says she loves your canine, but does she really want him running loose all over her house? That exercise pen can be assembled in no time, and you sure won’t have to keep your eye on Aunt Sally’s glass figurine collection every second of the day.

And when you and your canine are ready to bed down for the night, are you just going to let him sleep where he finally drops? Is that where Junior will end up for the night? I don’t think so. That’s right, don’t forget that pets like to sleep comfortably, too, and that portable bed sure feels a little more like home.

There’s another thing you should remember. And that’s all you have to do, just remember it. And that is… reassurance. Your pet knows you better than anyone else. Give him the reassurance that you’re there for him and that you’re going to have a good time together. He knows your voice. You’re the one he trusts. So give him confidence in this new traveling environment. Provide him with the things he needs to make his trip as safe and enjoyable as yours, and I’m sure you will have many fun excursions together for years to come. Happy travels!

Tom James
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/safe-and-enjoyable-pet-travel-takes-planning-preparation-57346.html

We certainly love fried foods; fries, chicken, fish, corn dogs, donuts, even veggies are battered and deep fried. Lunches and dinners are often accompanied with potato chips, corn chips, tortilla chips, and they are eaten as snacks.

The FDA estimates the average American eats 4.7 pounds of trans fats each year.

And that is just the amount that the fried foods absorb!

What about the majority of the oil that stays in the fryer? Though rarely done, and depending on use, this oil may need to be replaced many times a day. Once it is spent anything cooked in it tastes funky. Alas, most of the time fresh oil is added to the spent oil. Eventually though, it all gets replaced.

Ever wonder what becomes of the used fry oil?

The law requires all restaurants to have grease traps. The more fried food, the faster they fill up. Grease removal is big business. But what do the Grease Haulers do with it?

What do you think of when you hear the term “Recycling”. Only good things, right?

The haulers make even more money recycling the grease from these traps. Sounds good so far, right? What could this rancid, carcinogenic goop possibly be used for- an alternative fuel source perhaps? No, not exactly.

What could possibly be worse than ingesting 4.7 pounds of trans-fat oils per year?

A dirty little secret of the dry pet food industry is that they buy the haulers oil and spray it on dry pet food! What- Why? To give this otherwise tasteless high temperature extruded, nutrition-less bulk some flavor! If you stick your hand into the dry food you will get this oil residue all over it.

Whether you own cats and dogs, or not, spend a few minutes in the pet “food” section of your grocery store. The first thing you will notice is that this section is more like an entire aisle.

The competition for the pet food dollar is fierce. Each company outdoing the next with ever more eye catching packaging. If their combined advertising budgets went into the actual product, cats and dogs would be a whole lot healthier!

Check out the ingredients. If you have any kind of working knowledge of nutrition you will be appalled at what every one of these companies is calling food. And if that is not bad enough, the so-called vitamins and minerals they include are the poorest quality, least beneficial, made from coal tar.

Do not think for a minute that canned foods or that all so-called natural pet foods or are much better; they are not!

If you are wondering why the FDA has not stepped in, the fact is most of the human foods on grocery store shelves are as bad. It would seem that the FDA is just another feel good government agency that is little more than a toothless tiger.

No wonder tens-of-millions of cats and dogs have similar diseases to humans. We are eating much of the same diet.

“Fully 90% of all disease is caused by an unhealthy intestinal system”
Royal Society of Medicine Great Britain

The more things you eat that are not healthy, the greater the probability you will become unhealthy!

The good news: Most diseases can be reversed, especially in pets. Why pets more than us? Well, they can not cheat on their diet.

Your pet’s optimum diet is really quite basic. To know what is best for them you only have to observe their wild relatives whose diet consists of fresh kill, supplemented with grasses and dirt.

Cats and dogs instinctively eat grass and dirt for the microflora and soil based microorganisms (SBOs) that are essential digestive aids. Due to pesticides, insecticides, chemical run off, and chlorinated lawn water, today these essential soil and grass digestive aids are non-existent.

Whatever diet your cats and dogs are currently on, slowly introduce a more natural diet. Feed them raw or lightly cooked grass fed meats, free range chicken and wild fish (not farm raised!) that are preferably organic as well as antibiotic and hormone free.

Supplement this more natural diet with essential digestive enzymes, omega 3 rich oils and SBOs formulated specifically for cats and dogs. If your cat or dog is sickly or diseased, you must also introduce soothing agents and anti-inflammatories.

anonymous
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/biodiesel-or-pet-food-additive-83878.html

I have had some of my friends tell me to just feed my 5 year-old Siberian Husky cooked meat and rice with powdered doggy vitamins, but who has the time for all that? I noticed that the dog food that I was paying extra for was the same as the storebrands sold to Petco and PetSmart…

However, with this pet food recall scare, I’m wondering if I should bite the bullet and just devote a day a week to cook up the meat and rice for him??

-OR- are there other more holistic dog foods I can buy?

Check out Flint River Ranch dog food, it’s made with all FDA approved HUMAN grade ingredients. Their web site is frrco.com read up on it as a dog trainer and long time dog owner I highly recommend it.

I have a written a few articles on premium dog food and premium cat food. Some articles even have included the importance of supplements, treats and even the bones you give as a reward. So you can only imagine how important it is to feed our pets the proper nutrition. This nutrition comes daily from the food we decide to give them. It is extremely important to feed premium, quality foods for their health and in some cases their mental well being.

This article is especially important to me because of the recent pet food recall including dog and cat food. Please visit your vet immediately if you see any signs that may appear “abnormal” behavior. It may have nothing to do with what they ate but it is better to be safe than sorry.

As I write this article on March 25, 2007, the recall has widened to include all wet food as a safety precaution regardless of the date code, reports the Globe & Mail. Retailers have been asked to remove all of these foods. The “recall” list can be found by visiting menufoods.com/recall/.

As you may or may not have heard there has been a huge pet food recall on numerous brands of dog and cat food that may contain aminopterin, rat poison. Yes, rat poison. At this time there is no news as to how it got into the food. It has been reported this has been the cause of at least 16 deaths as well as more that are very ill and receiving treatment.
What can separate the premium food from mainstream?

Unfortunately, current pet food regulations allow manufacturers to use ingredients that you would never knowingly give to your dog or cat. In fact, you may be shocked to learn what some brands of pet food really contain. For example: the use of by-products (feet, bones and intestines, etc.), chemical preservatives (BHA and BHT) and grains that are often difficult to digest (corn, wheat, gluten and soy), which are often used as a protein source instead of meat.

Be Aware of Undesirable Ingredients

By-products – basically this is what is left over when the good cuts of meat are taken for humans. Bones, intestines, heads, feet, tendons, ligaments and other body parts are known as by-products.

Grains like soy, corn, corn gluten and wheat gluten are often used as protein sources; however, they are generally inferior and difficult to digest.

Chemical Preservatives like BHA, BHT and ethoxoquin can be very harmful to pets.

Freshness – Large manufacturers make pet food in tremendous batches that can last for a very long time, so you may be feeding food that is six months to a year old.

These are only some things to stay away from. Look to see if your dog or cat food contains vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants and bacteria cultures to name a few.

Remember, what your vet recommends as premium dog food might be the farthest thing from healthy.

Lori Matthews
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/i-want-to-eat-premium-pet-food-125625.html

Iguanas are one of the most popular reptile pets in the world. As required for pet owners to acquire animals for caring, they need to learn the characteristics of the reptile from its anatomy, feeding requirement and habitat.
The enthusiasm one has for a new pet of any kind often wears off quickly if the animal is no longer healthy and finds them experiencing problems. It only takes understanding and education to prevent those problems to make life easy and happy for both owners and pets
If you have already decided to obtain an Iguana as a pet, there are a few facts to keep in mind. The longevity of the animal is up to 15 years in captivity, the size of adults reach up to 6 feet in length. There are basic and important dietary requirements to consider. It is also important to understand that these animals are capable of inflicting injury on their owners. Though it is established there are more cases domestic dog biting than there are the number of Iguanas in the United States, it is safe to bear in mind that the iguana pet is a wild animal regardless of how much you think it is not.
The availability of farm raised Iguanas from Central and South America has drastically reduced the price, increased the quantity available, and generally increased the health of the babies arriving into the United States as well as other countries. These facts make it easier than ever to obtain a healthy animal to start, or to expand your reptilian collection!
The area that needs major attention is the diet of Iguanas. As popularly known, the iguanas are herbivore. To be more specific Iguana is actually a folivore, which means animals that primarily eat leaves. It’s natural habitat are branches of trees and there is no evidence that Iguanas, young or old, eat insects etc. For they do not possess any predatory capability like jumping or quick movements to capture fast moving insects. Besides iguana simply cannot properly metabolize anything other than leaves. Iguana has a digestive system that is known as a “Hind-Gut fermenter”. Meaning they use the lower intestinal tract to produce vitamins and absorb it’s ingested food. Fiber is a critical component of of their diet. It changes as the animal matures. Approximately, fiber should be no less than 16% of their diet.
Body temperature plays an important role for Iguanas to digest their foods. In their habitat the Iguanas seek a sunny basking spot to raise their body temperatures to around 98 degrees Fahrenheit. When they achieve the required body temperature they will begin to feed. The proper body temperature helps the animal in digesting its food.
During captivity, it is important to provide pet iguanas with the proper heating equipment to maintain required temperature.
The rate at which Iguanas eat is a function of its health, environment and age. If junk foods are for children, junk food for the Iguanas is fruits. It is equally as hard to get most common Iguanas to eat their greens instead of cantaloupe.
Dark leafy greens comprise the majority of Iguana’s diet. Minimize intake of spinach, parsley and kale. These greens contain oxalate which blocks Iguana’s ability to absorb calcium. There is still ongoing research proves this issue, but it is probably safe to avoid these greens.

Young iguanas should be fed daily. In their natural habitat, these animals feed several times per day. As they mature the frequency of meals decreases. They have no ability to chew food; they bite off chunks of greenery and swallow it whole. Therefore in captivity, It is important to chop all their food to a size that can be handled by your iguanas.

Abhishek Agarwal
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/pet-iguanas-how-they-behave-with-their-owners-753268.html