When we first opened, over twenty years ago, our primary goal was to find species appropriate foods so pet guardians would have healthy choices for their companion animals. With your support we have seen some amazing changes in our industry. There are now many choices for species appropriate food and supplements that exist today because you demanded better for your animals. Let’s face it, none of this would be happening without consumer support.
There are two other areas where I think we need another paradigm shift and it will not happen without you, so I wanted to start the conversation and see what we can do together.
Pet food toppers are additional foods that you can add to your pet’s bowl to increase palatability, health and variety. Pet food toppers can be a valuable tool for digestion and weight loss and can offer many other advantages, such as aiding with hydration, regulating diarrhea and constipation and adding nutrients to the diet. Besides the endless health benefits, they can bring a little surprise and delicious variation to your pet’s meals!
Toppers do not have to be expensive or complicated. However, don’t forget each dog and cat is different, and their individual needs may change.
Other kitchen toppers can include coconut oil for its anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties or pumpkin which is perfect for helping with upset tummies and supporting the digestive system. Even raw chicken eggs or raw quail eggs can be a great addition a few times a week!
Meet Jazz! This handsome guy is almost 6 years old, and since I rescued him he has brought me so much joy! From the beginning Jazz was very shy and cautious with most people, but we immediately bonded and became best buds. As a kitten he was always extremely energetic and could play for hours, racing around so fast it would make your head spin. Leaping, bounding and pouncing – the play never seemed to stop! However, as with most cats, over the years he has slowed down, opting for more sunbathing and cuddles than energized play sessions. Naturally, with the decline in activity I began to notice an increase in his weight.
Cats have a difficult time when it comes to losing weight and it has to do with what we are feeding them. If cats have more carbs in their diet, they will not be eating the correct protein levels their body requires. Low protein is not ideal for general maintenance and energy levels. When looking at the evolution of cats, they use fat and protein as sources of energy. There is no need for carbohydrates in the food they eat. Cats metabolically use protein for energy. Lower protein diets lead to lower muscle mass and lower muscle mass leads to a lower metabolic rate and higher weight gain. There have been studies which analyze how high protein and low carbohydrate diets are good for weight loss while maintaining lean body mass. Dry food uses carbohydrates to bind the kibble together, and so it’s difficult to produce a low carb food in a dry form. High protein, low carbohydrates and low calories are better found in a canned or raw diet. In addition, portion control is very important as indoor cats don’t move around as much as outdoor cats and therefore, we need to constantly monitor the energy they consume and use.
Your pets are most at risk of ticks during the warmer months. However, they are susceptible any time the temperature goes above zero degrees Celsius. As a pet owner we should know about some of the risks associated with common treatments. There are many different kinds of flea and tick treatments and preventions. There are chemical oral pesticides, chemical topical pesticides, chemical flea collars, natural scent-based flea prevention, natural pesticides, and diatomaceous earth.
Our pets are very important in our lives as they provide companionship and an excuse to get out of the house to exercise and go for a walk. There has been lots of news over the last several weeks and updates constantly regarding COVID-19. Every day is different. The information you read here today may be different in time, but as it stands, I would like to share information about you and your pets.
Probiotics, related to digestive health, is a topic that has been near and dear to my heart due to an experience I had with my dog, Jax. Jax is a Belgian Malinois with boundless energy and a look that will melt your heart! When Jax was about eight months old, he started to experience some pretty significant health issues. He started to lose weight, to the point where he was actually looking malnourished.
There have been a lot of discussions lately regarding dogs’ diets and what they should be eating. I have seen people recommending that the diet must be grain-based, avoiding exotic meats and grain free foods. They are also recommending the avoidance of “boutique” foods and that the food should be a diet that meets The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) guidelines, which would only include Royal Canin, Purina, Hill’s Science Diet, Eukanuba, Iams, and all veterinary prescriptions diets. They are saying companies should have full-time veterinarian nutritionists on staff and that the diets should be complete and balanced.
Hello Pet Guardians, By now you have probably heard about the FDA release of updated information related to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Primarily they are reporting nothing new, other than a list of companies that have been reported to be the food source for diagnosed pets. That list includes a few brands that are available in our stores.
