What Are You Feeding Your Pet?

There is a growing concern about the quality of pet food. In fact, many owners and vets claim that pet food is virtually junk food. Is this really the case? Learn the truth about commercially produced food and about the best diet choices for your pet.

Dogs

Dogs are omnivores. This means that they eat and thrive on all types of food. Your canine pet need proteins for healthy bones, organs and tissues. It needs healthy carbs for energy. It requires beneficial fats that provide for healthy skin, shiny coat and optimal functioning of the brain, the nervous system and the heart.

Commercial food for dogs

Can commercial dog food provide all of these nutrients to your pet? It actually does. Commercial products have been formulated to provide all the essential nutrients that your dog needs including minerals and vitamins. Many owners find their pets thriving on commercially produced food, provided that it is of good quality.

How about commercial dog food safety?

Dog food available in stores does contain animal byproducts such as intestines and ground bones. It has at least one source of plant protein. Most manufacturers include soy, wheat and peanut hulls, even though rice and potatoes and other vegetables are often included as well. Most of these ingredients are actually beneficial for your canine pet, provided that they are in appropriate amounts.

However, there are ingredients present in dog food that are totally unsafe. These include animal fat, especially when it is obtained from animals that have not been purposefully slaughtered or ones that have been infected with and treated for certain diseases. Most preservatives and additives in dog food are potentially unsafe for canines, especially if they compile in the body for a long period of time.

Are there any safe dog food choices available?

Holistic or natural food may be better for your pet as it usually contains safer ingredients and natural preservatives. Still, you must ensure that the food meets the nutrition requirements of your pet. Homemade food is also an option for your canine. You just need to use fresh ingredients and cook them. You have to add supplements to the food as well.

Food for humans is junk food for canines.

Your dog may be your best friend, but this does not mean that it will thrive on human food. The foods we eat are often way to sugary, salty or have too much herbs and spices to be safe for pets. Chocolate, grapes and raisins as well as onions and garlic are actually toxic to dogs.

Cats

Cats are carnivores. As well as dogs, their main food is also meat, which is a major source of protein. Felines require only small amounts of plant protein and carbohydrates. Cats need fats as well. The same applies to important vitamins and minerals.

Is commercial food a good choice for cats?

Just like with dog food, cat pet food available in stores is designed to provide your beloved companion with all necessary nutrients. Veterinarians recommend that you focus on the nutritional value of the food that you are buying and not on the ingredients. In this way, you will ensure that your pet will get all necessary nutrients to stay healthy and thrive.

In general, you can expect commercial cat food to contain poultry meat and by-products. It should contain liver as well. The proportion of plan ingredients should be relatively low. You may want to focus on these criteria in search for cat pet food that is not junk food.

How about safety?

Commercial cat food that is approved by the respective health authorities is considered safe. Again, just like dog food, it has preservatives and additives which may pose higher health risks. Generally, you will notice if your pet does not tolerate a certain type of food. If it does not seem healthy and full of energy and/or if you notice soft stools and diarrhea, then the food is certainly not good for your feline pet.

Holistic and natural cat foods are often better choices, but you must ensure that they are nutritious. The same rules as with traditional commercial products apply. Preparing homemade food for felines is also a good alternative. Chicken, chicken liver and fish are all excellent ingredients of healthy recipes. Just make sure that your pet gets enough vitamins and minerals as well as protein.

Again, human food is junk food for cats. It is true that felines love fish and chicken but they will most certainly not thrive on getting some from your plate!  Cats would prefer unsalted and unseasoned food that has been boiled and not fried or roasted. Grapes, raisins, chocolate and cocoa are toxic for felines.

Rabbits

Bunnies thrive on hay. In fact, your pet will most likely not need any other source of nutrients provided that you feed it with safe and high-quality hay. Hay available in stores should be perfectly safe, provided that it is approved for sale by the respective authorities.

Rabbits love many greens as well. Some of their favorites include dandelion and parsley. Many vegetables such as carrots, Romaine lettuce, radishes and radish tops, cucumbers and peppers are safe for them. Including these in your pet’s diet will give it extra beneficial nutrients. Just keep in mind that it is best for the vegetables to be grown organically.

How about commercial food for rabbits?

Pellets and mixes are readily available in stores. Their main ingredients are cereal flakes, flaked peas and coloured biscuits. These are safe and nutritious for bunnies. Just like all products sold commercially, rabbit pet food contains some preservatives and additives. However, these are not as many as the ones in other types of pet food. The preservatives are also considered to be safer because they do not include ones intended to preserve fats.

Should you feed your rabbit pet food?

Veterinarians recommend that you include only small amounts of it in your pet’s diet. As much as 2 ounces of pellets should be given to adult bunnies per day. Hay and veggies should be your rabbit diet’s main components.

I hope that you enjoy are article which we’ve written. We hope that this article will influence your choice of pet food next time you need to stock up!

We run a pet insurance comparison site and there isn’t much we don’t know about the health of Dogs, Cats, Rabbits and Horses. So make sure you read the label next time you purchase your pet food. If you need to look for a new pet insurance policy then have a look at our website, you could be pleasantly surprised and find a really good deal.

Consider All Options

It is important for you to consider how much time, effort AND cash you can spare before rushing on to the pet shop lest you end up stressed and depressed.  Your local pet shop owner could probably ban you in their store for neglect and improper pet care. To avoid this, go for a pet that will fit your lifestyle and personality. And one you would most likely not neglect.

Evaluate Your Time

People who have busy schedules with only a couple of minutes to spare and who have an aversion to physical activities may get a low maintenance indoor pet for company.  If you are such a person, choose from pets such as small birds, rodent species, reptiles, and fish, whichever suits your taste. 

Best Option: Fish

The most practical pet for a first time pet owner is a FISH.  They’re easier to manage than a Tamagochi or other virtual pets. It doesn’t take much to keep them happy.  Just give them food and a clean and healthy tank and they’ll be content to swim for the rest of their lives. Well, that’s just basically all they do anyway.

Caring

Caring for your fish requires once a day feeding.  It simply entails sprinkling a few flakes or pellets of fish food and you’re good to go.  No dishes, water bottles and clean up required! Isn’t that great?  

You can also maintain a clean and safe environment for your pet fish by simply replacing some of the dirty water with clean water at least once a week and a thorough cleaning of the tank and its components at least once a month. The frequency of your tank maintenance depends on the size and equipment in your aquarium. It becomes more often if your tank or bowl is small and gets murky easily. Equip your tank with filters and components that are working properly to minimize the effort required in cleaning the tanks.

Goldfish and guppies are some of the most common fish that you can get.  Aside from being inexpensive, goldfish and guppies can adjust well to changing temperatures and does not require special fish care.  You just have to watch out for over feeding or polluting your tank.  Other fish species may require special care and equipment but are still considered as low maintenance.  In a search for easy and low maintenance pets, I say Go Fish!

Jessy is a pet lover and new mom blogging for Dobovo, the family-friendly resource of Kiev apartments.

When did your cat go blind?

A blind cat’s behaviour might be very different if she has been blind from birth compared to gradually losing her sight. If your cat has never been able to see, she might act more confidently and do more “normal” things than a cat whose sight has gradually deteriorated. The most important thing is that you know your cat, her history and what is “normal” behaviour for her so that you can help her improve cat health and become more confident where necessary.

Familiar environment

Keeping the blind cat’s environment as constant as possible will help general cat health. Limit the movement of furniture, and keep litter trays and food in the same place wherever possible. This will help your blind cat feel safe and allow her to move confidently in her environment. Blind cats are very sensitive to changes and it might cause distress if things aren’t in their normal places. In addition, be careful about where you put temporary items like shoes and bags as your cat might get very confused if she bumps into them.

Safety

By keeping your blind cat indoors you can limit her distress and protect and maintain good cat health. It is a good idea to only let your cat be outside in an enclosed garden or yard, or on a harness, as it would be very difficult for a blind cat to find her way home if lost. Some blind cats jump up and down on furniture as if they could see, but if your cat is unfamiliar or less confident with heights, don’t leave her unsupervised on chairs and sofas, or even upstairs, as she could take a tumble.

Obesity risk

Another key factor in maintaining good cat health is carefully observing your cat’s weight. It is quite normal that as a cat loses her sight, she will become less active and risk becoming overweight, or worse, obese. This can lead to other serious illnesses such as diabetes so weigh your cat regularly. Never put your cat on a diet before you have received veterinary advice.

Play

Blind cats still need to exercise and play and this is a great way of improving cat health in general. Try noisy toys and hide dry food around the house that she can search for to stimulate her stronger senses. Blind cats might also respond to unusual toys or objects around the house that you never though about, like cd wallets sliding on the floor or the sound of knitting needles.

Denise Walsh is a cat lover who has kept them as pets for many years.  She recommends Pet Health Info as a free online resource, offering information on a range of pet health issues, including cat health.

People love their pets. They care for them as their loved ones. From food till grooming, some develop too much affection towards their pets. Everybody loves his or her pet from celebs to common people, dog is the only animal frequently found as a pet. Some keep it because their favorite celebs have one and some because dogs are loyal. All have different reasons but all love their dogs. Kids love dogs as they can play with them and this is a major reason to have dog at home.

Each dog belongs to different family. By the name of the family, one can understand dog’s nature, diet, age, etc. Dogs those belong to elite class are expensive to buy and to maintain. The prices today depend upon the looks of the dog too.

There are numerous dog breeds in the world. Each has different kind of specialty. Some can guard the house, some are fighter, and some are simple and sweet. Different breeds of dogs are prevailing since ancient times. People find easy to choose their favorite dog by its breed. Some of the famous dog breeds from ancient times until today are Labrador, Yorkshire, Boxer, bulldog, Chihuahua, etc.

Labrador is a strong dog. He is intelligent enough to understand and is most popular in America. This breed was refined in England. It is a rescue dog and mostly used by officials like Police to find the culprit. This dog has a sharp mind and can smell things quickly.

Yorkshire is a lovely dog. Cute and pretty with long hairs. Celebrities love such dogs. Active and expensive dog but difficult in maintenance. Because of the growth of long hairs, it demands extra care. Its hairs are long and silky till legs.

Boxer is a fighter cock. As the name suggests, they who are into dog fighting usually keep it. It can be a good house guard. He is muscular enough to fight and win with any other breed of dog. He is fearless.

Bull dog is another most common breed of dog. It has a soft sheet kind of skin. Looks angry dog but lovable. It has a large head and a powerful body.

Chihuahua is a small dog but much smarter than size. Short haired and not so beautiful but loved because of its small look. One of the Chihuahua has recently won the award for the ugliest dog of the world.

These are some special kind of dog breeds but there are loads of dog breeds prevailing in the world. As the craze for pets are booming, the names of these dogs will be immortalized.

As you care for dogs, take care of your online business too. Develop a custom website by opting for the basic hosting plans to support your web business. Find more details at HostingCoupons.org

2.     A Long Rope.  Every self respecting dog parent has a rope toy for the dog.  For one.  Dogs love them.  No, scratch that.  For one, they are cheap, and two dogs love them.  Thirdly, We all secretly love trying to tug it out of their mouths.  That’s why we got a big dog and not a Chihuahua.  You can put a saddle on them and ride them to work.  You can have them give you a high five… like… a real one.  My bloodhound Basil can drag his rope right out from under me, dislodging all my 180 pounds!  If I were to tug as hard with a Chihuahua as I do with Basil, the poor thing would be flying through the air and landing on the roof, yipping the whole way about it was going to beat me up.  Remember, get the longest rope you can, and make sure it has good knots on both ends.  Otherwise, you are cheating.

3.     A Soccer Ball.  All dogs love tennis balls, but this article isn’t about all dogs.  This article is about the bruisers, the big boys, and big boys play with big… I am not going to give you the satisfaction of me finishing that sentence.  Get you mind out of the gutter.  Dogs are like people, in that they love to show off.  Bring several sized balls, and you will find that eventually they will try to pick up the biggest one they can, as if to say, “Look what I can do!”  I picked a soccer ball because you can kick it and they can chase it.  Flight oriented balls (football, basketball) have less chance for a dog to be involved.  With two people, you can play keep away for hours.  The only downside to this is that eventually your dog will puncture the ball, so buy a cheap one.

4.     Any stuffed animal that squeaks.  Don’t roll your eyes at dogs because they like squeaky stuff.  We are no different.  Half of the silly apps on your iPhone are based around it making some dumb noise for you to giggle at.  Yes, you will want to ration the time with this one for your sanity’s sake, but in short bursts, the visual of your giant dog with finger long teeth, rippling muscles, walking around with there little Squeaky Bear is a juxtaposition of the highest order of cuteness.

5.     You.  Yes, I am about to get sappy and a bit preachy with you, but you’ll live.  You are the best toy your big dog has.  Play with it.  Be rough, be gentle, whatever, just spend time with your dog.  That is the commitment we all made when we got these small horses.  Putting them in the backyard for a few hours doesn’t count.  Love your dog as much as it loves you, if you can.

This article comes from the team at www.dogfencediy.com the perfect resource for wireless dog containment systems

Chinchi… what? The sound of its name almost reminds you of a Mexican delicacy. It’s either that, or a Spanish dance. Before you dip your fingers in some salsa, you must know that chinchillas are among the breed of small pets which are worthy of finding their way into your home. Chinchillas are rodents native to South America which have been domesticated and are fast becoming a popular choice for a pet. The chinchilla’s adorable features and charming personality make it an excellent addition to your family.

The first step in caring for your pet chinchilla is finding it a suitable and comfy habitat. These small pets love to run around, so be sure to make them a habitat that’s roomy. For a single chinchilla, a cage of 24x24x18 inches will suffice. If possible, make it more than one level. Fill it with natural pine shavings which have no tar or oil. Be sure to change these once a week. For cages with a mesh bottom, the mesh in the wire should be small enough, so the chinchilla won’t accidentally get its foot caught in the holes. A tiny house and chinchilla wheel are perfect additions to the habitat. Don’t use a hamster wheel, as this has gaps which could catch your chinchilla’s legs.

Give your chinchilla fresh water in a bottle. Make sure that any part of the bottle which is plastic is covered with a metal guard, to keep the chinchilla from chewing on the plastic. The water has to be changed daily, of course.

Twice a day, feed your chinchilla with especially prepared chinchilla food. Serve it in a dish which they can’t chew on. One to two tablespoons of food each day is enough to keep your chinchilla happy. Fresh hay is likewise important in their diet. Just keep it dry, as it easily catches mildew.

Regularly give your pet some chinchilla dust or sand to bathe in. Put 1/4 cup of dust in a container and leave it in its habitat. For extra entertainment, you’d want to give your chinchilla toys to play with. A popular choice is a hanging block with bells at the bottom. Since their teeth never stop growing, chinchillas need safe wooden blocks to chew on.

Your chinchilla will also need to exercise in a wider but enclosed space. You could use the bathroom for this. Be sure to supervise your pet as it roams around the room.

Take good care of your chinchilla, and it could keep you company for as long as 20 years.

Jessy is a family and lifestyle blogger writing about lean cuisine diet and sharing her dieting tips 4 day diet. You can follow Jessy’s health advice on twitter at @JessyTroy

Prepare meticulously for the great arrival

You cannot bring the adopted cat just like that and without any planning or consideration. First up, you need to decide on a room or any area of your home that will accommodate your newly adopted cat. The room thus selected should be the one you least use for your own purpose. Make sure that there is enough space behind the furniture and the closable door such that the cat will find ample space to hide as soon as it arrives. It is also worthwhile protecting the furniture and bed covers as stressed out cats can often find them suitable enough place to urinate to give an indication to others that they have marked their territory.

You need to make sure that there is a big basket present in the room with added bedding in it. This too can act as a den for your adopted cat and they can use it to unwind themselves at the end of the day. However these settings have to be kept far away from the entrance of the door. Get the help from other members of your family if that is required.

Entry into the sweet home

You shouldn’t be overly eager while you are bringing your beloved pet into your home for the first time. You need to give the little cat the time that it requires to make itself comfortable in the new home. Once you get the cat into your house, place the basket carefully inside the room specifically allocated for it, far away from the door and near to litter tray. You can then move away from it and gently close the door behind you.

Place some food into its bowl and do not try to disturb it for the next 24 hours. Chances are that it would have consumed all food materials by next day. However if this is not the case, make sure you get it checked by a vet.

Abiding by the time

It is always a healthy sign to see water and food disappearing from your cat’s bowl. You shouldn’t rush on to the things associated with your little pet. Give it the time that it requires. You will notice that after sometime it will start appearing from its den and will start moving about its place quite often.

It will also not mind you sitting beside it especially during mealtimes. All through these times you can gently scratch his ears and make it get accustomed to you and your moves. However you need to realize that it will take a lot of time to even get to this stage. Until then, you need to be really patient and let things happens at its own pace. He will surely feel comfortable in his home after a while.

Your true companion!

Over a period of time you will realize that the cat has got used to his new place and has become very close and friendly to you. This will be the case even with those cats that are overly nervous. Though it might turn out to be friendly with others too, it will be more devoted to that one person who gave it all the unconditional love and patience towards it.

Unable to keep him, she brought Charlie to The Blue Cross Centre in Southampton in hopes that he would find a loving home.  Charlie’s surgery, while it saved his life, left him looking quite unusual.  The veterinarian had to remove his ears and the entire top of his nose, leaving him with just two recessed holes to breathe through.  Despite his affectionate demeanour he looked quite sinister, and he quickly earned the name of “Voldermog” due to his uncanny resemblance of the villain, Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter movies. The staff worried that he would not find a good home because people would be put off by his appearance.

As news spread of Voldermog, quite the opposite happened – the Blue Cross had people from as far away as America wishing to adopt him!  Sarah Gaden found him irresistible, too and quickly made the 50-mile trek down from Steyning to take him home. Now he’ll be an indoor cat, and never have to worry about too much sun exposure or skin cancer for the rest of his days.

Indoor cats require special nutrition because their activity levels are usually much lower than those of outdoor cats. Royal Canin developed a formula of cat food specifically for indoor cats: Royal Canin Cat Indoor 27. The indoor formula of Royal Canin Cat Food has a lower calorie content compared to the other types of Royal Canin Cat Food. To celebrate Voldemog’s adoption, Nutrecare are running a special promotion, if you spend over £55 you get £5 off and Nutrecare are also donating £1 to the Blue Cross for every sale.

Though plenty of reasons can be attributed to dog’s obesity related problems, the main reasons are however limited to lack of exercise and overeating. As a dog owner you need to realize that when your dog takes in more amount of calories than it can possibly burn it, possibilities are always that the excess fat will get stored in its body. Even if your dog takes in an extra calorie worth food, it can result in increase of its body weight by as much as 25 per cent by the time it reaches its middle age!

It is really hard for most dog owners to fathom obesity related problems in their dog until they take it to a nearby vet, in connection with some other problems. It has to be understood that most dogs, if not all, gain body weight over a period of time. It is only when dogs start reacting oddly, that the owners realize this hard fact. In typical cases, a dog facing obesity related problems will find it hard to walk long distances and might even find it hard to breathe properly. Furthermore, they will find it tough to exercise or face heat.

Proper Diagnosis

Proper diagnostic tests have to be conducted on your pet dog to find out its overall health condition. That’s not all; right measures have to be undertaken to reduce your dog’s excess weight.

Tests that can be included in proper diagnosis:

• Measurement has to be taken of your dog’s body weight, in addition to assessing overall score of its body condition. A historical perspective has to be taken into account as to how the dog managed to gain all those excess weight. A pattern has to identified, that could be associated with environmental changes or certain events that lead to increase in its weight.
• Blood check up is necessary for proper diagnosis of the problem in hand. Serum profile, count of blood cells and urine tests are essential in determining the disease your dog is confronted with. If the problem can be identified through these tests, additional tests could be required to find out the real condition before opting for a suitable program for weight loss.

• To identify the correct program, thorough assessment has to be made of your dog’s intake of table foods, snacks, treats and even its exercises. If the actual intake of calories far exceeds the amount it requires for healthy growth, the problem in hand can then be associated with obesity.

Treatment Procedure:

Treatment for any disease that is already diagnosed or is an underlying one has to be recommended accordingly. This is because these diseases could affect obesity in their own way.

• The calorie intake of your dog has to be reduced on a daily basis. This can be done by changing the food products or their amounts every day.
• The dog needs to be satiated by increasing its intake of water and fiber.
• Exercises have to be increased, possibly in different ways. Large number of toys and leashes are available for this purpose.