Finding the Pet Food that will Optimize Your Pet’s Health
Article by Chris Robertson
It goes without saying that we all love our pets, and we want to ensure that they live long and healthy lives. We take them to the vet for their checkups and vaccinations, we spay and neuter them to help reduce the animal population, and we open our hearts and our homes to them. We also are subjected to a steady stream of pet food commercials, each company trying to convince us that their pet food is superior to the others. The unfortunate truth, though, is that not all pet food companies have your beloved animal’s best interests at heart. In fact, much of the dog/cat food on the market isn’t nutrient dense; instead, it relies in large part on fillers and animal byproducts. Look closely at the list of ingredients for the pet food you have on hand. Even so-called premium brand pet foods have ingredients that will take you aback. The first five ingredients listed usually make up the lion’s share of the pet food. Leading cat food and dog food brands will include things like chicken by-product meal, corn grits, corn meal or corn gluten meal, and wheat flour or wheat gluten. An ideal diet for cats is one that’s human grade. For example, cat food should contain a concentrated, high-quality protein source like chicken meal, ground brown rice, rice flour, chicken fat, and dried beet pulp. Dog food should contain the same ingredients, with the exception of substituting oat groats for rice flour.The list of ingredients in your dog/cat food may be surprising, but it’s also startling to see that even premium brands don’t typically include ingredients that will sustain your pet’s health and longevity. What are some of these ingredients? For dogs and cats, nutritious food should include vegetables and fruits, which contain antioxidants, as well as fiber, vitamins, and phytonutrients. It should also include direct-fed microbials – the kinds of microbials that are found in yogurt that help maintain good health. Similarly, omega-3 fatty acids should be incorporated into a nutritious pet food, both because they support health and because they keep your pet’s coat shiny.When you contrast how we eat with how our pets eat, it becomes clear that the quality of their food is of paramount importance. After all, we eat a wide variety of foods, and can always supplement our diets with vitamins if we skip on the veggies or fruit. Our pets, on the other hand, eat the same food day in and day out for most of their lives, with a few added treats now and then; if there’s a vital nutrient missing, they don’t have the opportunity to consume it elsewhere. Life’s abundance is meant to be shared. Our pets give us so much unconditional love that the least we can do in return is provide them with human grade, nutritious pet food that will ensure that they enrich our lives for years to come.
About the Author
Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies.For tips/information, click here: Pet FoodVisit Majon’s Pets and Supplies directory.
Spaying and Neutering Pets
Article by Animal Friends Insurance
When it comes to spaying or neutering a domesticated creature there is often a lot of confusion as to why the process is advantageous and not an inhumane, horrible experience to impose on an animal. This article is going to talk through reasons on why this course of action is a positive and caring one.
There is currently a companion animal overpopulation crisis in the U.K. Whilst shelters are trying their absolute best to house unwanted pets or strays; there just isn’t enough room for them all. Healthy cats and dogs are put down every single day as there are not enough homes to place them in. Some do not make it to the shelters and so die in less humane ways such as exposure to the elements, a slow starvation, disease or even outright cruelty. Whilst the crowded shelters, in part, may be a result of the increasingly difficult economic situation some animal owners find themselves in, it is largely due to not enough of these animals being spayed or neutered.
Once a female cat or dog is spayed they have essentially been surgically sterilised. This is done by removing the ovaries, uterus and oviduct. It is best to have this done around the age of 4 to 6 months. In addition to helping decrease the chances of producing unwanted pets it has a number of health benefits. It eliminates the heat cycle and so will stop unneutered males from trying to mate with your female. In addition, it will lessen the urge for your four-legged-friend to roam too far, which in turn will lower the chance of your animal becoming injured or contracting a disease. Furthermore, reduction of sexual discomfort and distress will be diminished and the complications that can arise with pregnancy will be non-existent.
Neutering a male pet is the surgical sterilisation achieved by removing the testicles (again, this should be done around the 4 to 6 month mark). This is largely beneficial as it helps to fade behavioural problems (such as being destructive, aggressive and gaining the urge to fight) that a male can often display whilst looking for a mate. It will also remove any chance of the development of testicular cancer and greatly reduce any problems concerning the animal’s prostate gland.
There are often worries and concerns that if a female canine or feline does not bear at least one litter before being spayed then she will not mature properly and her health maybe affected. This is not the case and in fact it will take away the possibility of her developing uterine or ovarian cancer whilst greatly reducing the threat of mammary cancer.
Many owners maintain that if their pet produces a litter of kittens or puppies then they will find homes for them all. The point that humane societies, shelters and rescue groups are trying to stress is that those homes could be going to the cats or dogs at the shelters and rescue centres whom may face being put-down as a result of over-population.
We here at Animal Friends are strongly for spaying and neutering as it is a lot safer for the pet’s health in the long-run and also helps to curtail aggressive and destructive tendencies.
Head to our website http://www.animalfriends.co.uk to discover our excellent policies and get a quote on your friend. For every quote made online we will donate 50p to an animal welfare charity with the aim of donating a million pounds to various charities by the end of 2012.
About the Author
I’m a Online Marketing and Web Content Writer here at Animal Friends Insurance and will be keeping you up to date with all the interesting animal related information from the animal world aswell as informative articles. Head over to our website for great pet insurance policy’s. Including both dog insurance and cat insurance
A New Beginning Pet Care & Rescue Non-Profit organization rescues animals from shelters before they are killed.
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Foreclosure Pets: Throwing the Puppy out With the Mortgage
Article by Karrie Rose
The six-bedroom, four-bath home in South Florida looked much like the other expensive homes emptied because of foreclosure, with one difference. A Labrador Retriever was left in the large, fully fenced backyard, pawing an empty water bowl. Luckily, neighbors heard “Buddy” whining and called the SPCA, saving him from the slow starvation that had already dropped him to 55 pounds from his former 70.
Buddy was just one victim of a silent wave of cruelty sweeping the nation as spiking interest rates have ousted people from their homes. All over the nation, people who have had their houses taken by the bank are relocating. The problem that rescuers see is that they are relocating without taking their pets or, at the very least, surrendering them to a local shelter.
“It’s horrific”, said one realtor who declined to give her name for this article, “I rescued a Chihuahua and her litter of three pups from a foreclosed home three weeks ago. She had hidden them in a closet. If they hadn’t been whimpering when we were doing a walk through in preparation for showing the house, they would have died.”
Other agents have had to call animal control for dogs left in the houses and yards of foreclosed homes, who were still on guard and refusing to let strangers on the property. Worse stories can be had from realtors and bank representatives who have found pets dead because they were left with no food and no water. In these cases, notes explaining that the former owners couldn’t take the pet with them do nothing to mitigate the disgust that animal lovers feel when faced with a dead or dying animal that could at least have been tied to a shelter’s steps. At the very minimum, it could have been given a quick, painless death instead of suffering for days, even weeks.
Realtors and other professionals who deal with foreclosed homes have more problems than just the reprehensible cruelty involved. When abandoned, a pet can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage to a house and yard. The feces and urine left by a pet trapped in a house can leave carpets unusable. Damage done by pets trying to get out of the house can mean that doors, windows and walls need to be completely replaced. Yards can be laid waste to by a bored/starving/lonely animal. It’s not just an animal cruelty issue, it’s also an issue of millions of dollars.
SPCAs and shelters are desperately trying to stem the tide of foreclosure pets with free food, low or no-cost spaying and neutering programs. The Humane Society of the United States (hsus.org) has actually started a “Foreclosure Fund”, with 000. Shelters can apply for grants of up to 00 to help financially strapped families keep their pets. Some shelters are adding “foreclosure” to their list of reasons for surrendering pets to help determine the impact of this new phenomenon.
Shelters and rescues are also encouraging more landlords to accept pets. If you find that a property you represent has an abandoned pet:
- If the pet is friendly, it may be possible to take it to a shelter with a minimum of fuss. Be aware, though, that abandoned pets can have parasites and other issues that make transporting them in your vehicle a messy proposition at best. When in doubt, it is always best to contact Animal Control or the SPCA.
- If the pet appears in any way aggressive or afraid, DO NOT APPROACH IT! Fearful and/or aggressive animals will bite and scratch! Animal Control officers are more equipped to deal with this type of situation.
- Before you leave the premises, leave a container of water available for the pet if in any way possible. In hot climates, especially, access to water is imperative.
If you are representing a foreclosed property:
- As soon as possible do an inspection. Make sure that all areas of the house are covered and make sure that nooks, basements, sheds and other out-of-the-way areas are fully checked to make sure that a domestic animal has not hidden itself away.
- Ask people in the neighborhood if the family kept pets and, if so, what kind were they and did the family take the pet when leaving.
- Contact your local SPCAs, shelters and rescues for more information and to know who to go to if you find a foreclosure pet in distress
- Make people facing foreclosure aware of the “Foreclosure Fund” and direct them to their local animal shelter/SPCA for help in re-homing/surrendering their animal
- Make a donation to the Foreclosure Pets Fund
- Support stronger legislation against abandoning pets on relinquished property.
By working together, real estate professionals and animal advocates can save abandoned animals left with foreclosed properties. This not only prevents animals from suffering and death, it also can save properties from damage that would take thousands of dollars to repair.
About the Author
Learn all about Florida’s Emerald Coast, and the Destin real estate market, at EdKirkland.com. Our users enjoy a free comprehensive home search, home marketing tips, and extensive information on local communities, such as the Burnt Pine real estate area.
Online Pet Food Coupons ? Feed Your Pets for Health is Wealth
Taking care of a pet is one big responsibility. It’s like taking care of your own baby already. You have to feed, play and give time to it. Whether your pet is a dog or cat, it needs attention from you. If you don’t give the right care to them, they will surely be affected. Also, if you don’t give your pet the right food, its health will be affected which results to unhealthy and abnormal growth.
Giving your pets the proper care is now made more affordable through online pet food coupons. In case your worry is your budget, there is no excuse for you to not give your pets the right food. Like a baby, your pets deserve to be treated right. It’s your responsibility to feed your pet with foods that are nutritious and delicious at the same time. Branded pet foods could be quite expensive. This is the reason why there are online pet food coupons. They will allow any pet owner afford any kind of pet food brand. Whether it is Pedigree, Alpo, Royal Canin, etc, you ca afford it with the use of coupons. Health is wealth, even for our beloved pets. If they aren’t healthy, this will reflect what kind of pet owner you are. You own a pet, thus, it is your job to take responsibility.
Again, there is no excuse for you not to get online pet food coupons because it is seriously easy. Use the research tool you have at home, which is your computer. Go to the internet and search for online pet food coupons. If you have any brand in mind, you can go directly to their website and look for the coupons there. When you find the coupons, print them and use these coupons for your pet food purchase.
No more excuses to not give your pet its proper food. Be a responsible pet owner and use online pet food coupons.
Creature Comforts Great & Small – Pet Food Drive/BBQ – Mark Your Calendars Pet Therapy Team – Nursing Home Visits – Paul Flotron Regular Guest – WGNU PaulFlotron@yahoo.com, 314-200-8561, www.creaturecomfortsgreatnsmall.com
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The Issue Of Homeless Pets
The number of pets that are homeless have been consistently growing in number over the years and finally reached an all time high. Pounds and shelters are full and overcrowded, turning away and killing pets weekly because there are few alternatives. Still more suffer abandoned, unwanted, and unfed. The problem of homeless pets is one that must be addressed.
Millions of dollars are being poured into the care of homeless pets each year. It is sad and disgusting that such money must be used to care for an issue that could be resolved if the majority of the people would resolve to do their part in controlling it. What is your part? Read on to discover.
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If you have a pet of you own, care for it properly. Make sure it has tags and could be easily identified and returned to you in the unfortunate event that it did become lost. Spay or neuter it to help control the issue of overpopulating. Also, take care to train your animal properly, as best as you can.
If you do not have a pet, or if you are capable of caring for more than one, adopt it instead of purchasing it from a breeder or pet shop. If everyone would adopt one pet, we would not be dealing with the current problems we have today.
Encourage your friends and family to do the same are you are doing. Talk to them about the importance of caring for animals properly and share your pleasurable experience with an adopted pet. The further the message is spread, the more it will be taken seriously and acted upon by others.
If it is within your means, donate to the pet shelters. They are all highly under funded and struggling to support the few animals they have. The more people take this to heart, the easier it will be for pets to be brought off the streets and put into caring loving environments.
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After the Pet Food Recalls, What Can You Feed Your Pets to Keep Them Healthy?
Article by Linda Chae
My pet food was on the list of pet food recalls last year and now I feel I have to question EVERY product I want to buy for my pets!
Do you ever feel as though your entire grocery list for your pets is off limits? A lot of us who had never worried about safe, clean food got a VERY rude awakening the past several months. Even when we were used to reading labels to make sure we were buying healthy food and treats, we soon learned that was no longer an assurance of safety.
So, what can you do about it?
I’ve received many e-mails and phone calls asking for simple lists and recipes to make for your pet. While this was a pretty normal reaction to the storm of recalls, few pet owners realized the sacrifice and time that would be required to return to making your own pet food.
Obviously, the decision to make your own pet food depends on the type of pet you own. For example, it’s much easier to cook up or mix up food for a cat than for a large St. Bernard. If you are determined to go this route, there are some ingredients that you SHOULD NOT include in a diet for your cat or dog. This list comes from the ASPCA and is based on illnesses and deaths in pets, not on hearsay.
Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets
- Alcoholic beverages
- Avocado
- Chocolate (all forms)
- Coffee (all forms)
- Fatty foods
- Macadamia nuts
- Moldy or spoiled foods
- Onions, onion powder – all forms
- Raisins and grapes
- Salt
- Yeast dough
- Garlic – all forms
- Products sweetened with xylitol – artificial sweetener
Now, if you’re concerned about the pet food recalls and want to try a homemade cat chow and dog chow recipe to keep your pets healthy, here’s one to get you started.
This simple, healthful chow mixture is easy to make for your dogs or cats. I like this recipe because it includes meat, vegetables and rice. I prefer recipes that do not include large quantities of wheat or white flour as main ingredients because many pets can become sensitized to those ingredients.
Meat, Vegie and Rice Stew
INGREDIENTS
3 pounds minced chicken meat or ground hamburger
2 1/2 cups frozen vegetable blend (no garlic or onions), minced
4 cups rice 6 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup olive oil
DIRECTIONS
Place chicken, vegetables, and rice into a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Stir in water until the mixture is smooth. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
Everyday Common Sense Precautions
Now that we’ve dealt with the issue of feeding your pets healthy, safe food, the next most important thing for you to remember is to have a qualified veterinarian examine your pet if anything unusual occurs – whether it’s from food or from other products they’re exposed to during an average day. Unusual symptoms might include vomiting, lethargy, listlessness, incontinence, loose bowel, or general loss of appetite.
I like to remind pet owners that their companion animals can be affected by products they are using in their homes or cars where the animals live and ride. For example, most people don’t realize that air fresheners with synthetic chemicals and fragrances settle to the floor where pets walk in the residue, clean their paws and ingest the toxins.
As a result of the indoor pollution many pets are exposed to, we are seeing an increase in the number of chronic illnesses in our pets just as we see the increase in the general human population.
Learn about toxins that can affect your pet’s health, not just about the food they eat. Your pet is counting on you – be their advocate! Look for natural, organic products that are certified by an organization you trust.
About the Author
Linda Chaé is President & Chief Formulator for Chaé Organics, Inc. and a pioneer in ‘go natural’ skin care for consumers. She is committed to clean, safe toxic free products for the whole family, including pets. Her organic pet waterless shampoo is an easy to use foaming shampoo that requires no water or rinsing. For more information or to order her products, visit http://www.chaeorganics.biz
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Nutro Pet Food Offers Nutritious and Delicious Formulas For Your Pets
Article by Mikael Rieck
When it comes to choices in pet foods, you probably already know that there are a lot of choices out there. You want to provide your pets with the best in nutrition and quality, but it is sometimes hard to know which brand is really the best for your pets. It seems as though they are all offering the same products but if you look closely, you will see that there are a lot of differences when it comes to quality, nutrition, taste and ingredients. You want to make sure that you only feed your pets the best of the best to help keep them healthy, happy and strong.
Nutro pet food has been serving up quality and nutritious pet food since 1926. Over eighty years of work has gone into their pet food products and they continue to produce formulas with uncompromised quality. They pride themselves on their different product lines and formulas and have worked to keep their name at the top of pet food brand companies. Their company believes that your pets are a part of your life, and that you want to do what you can to make sure that they are going to be with you for a long time. They put this belief to test when producing only the best of pet food on the market.
What makes Nutro pet food so much different? They strive to create formulas that are great tasting, nutritious and healthy for the special pets in your life. One of the best qualities of Nutro pet food is that they do not use any chemical preservatives in their pet food. They use only natural vitamins to ensure the best in freshness and flavor. They also make different formulas for the special nutrition needs of different pets.
Both cats and dogs can enjoy Nutro pet food and there are specially formulated types for different types and ages. Nutro dog food comes in the following varieties:
* Puppy – for the first year* Adult Natural – for adult dogs who are active* Large Breed Puppy – for the first year of puppies who will grow to be more than 50 pounds.* Large Breed Adult – For adult dogs who are active and who are 50 pounds and over.* Adult – for adult dogs who are active* Senior – for adult dogs who are five years and over* Adult Beef Meal & Rice – for adult dogs who are active* Weight Control – For dogs who are overweight or less active* Adult Mini Chunk – for adult dogs who like smaller bites of food.
Nutro offers various formulas for cats that include:
* Kitten – Roasted chicken flavor for pregnant or nursing cats and for kittens* Adult Indoor Cat – Roasted chicken flavor for cats one year and older who are indoors.* Adult – Roasted Chicken flavor – for adult cats who are one year or older* Indoor Adult Salmon Flavor – for adult cats who are one year and older* Weight Control – for adult cats who are one year and older and are overweight or less active.* Senior – for adult cats who are over seven years old.
Nutro pet food products are available at pet supply stores all over and are also available online. They pride themselves in delivering quality pet food products and have many loyal customers. When you are looking for quality and healthy pet food for your pets, you can look to Nutro to provide only the best in nutrition and delicious taste that your pets will love.
About the Author
Make sure you check out our website at http://www.petinsurancepro.com for more information on pet health and nutrition. Also check ouy our latest article on Banfield Pet Insurance.
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Total Pet Supply For Your Pet’s Health
Since your pet is an important part of the family, you should seek out the very best products to keep them healthy. Whether you have an active dog that loves to get her exercise, or you have an older cat that has special dietary needs. With a wide variety of products from food to medications, Total Pet Supply is your one stop shop for you pet needs. It’s today’s most trusted online pet store with a commitment to providing the most affordable prices on the best products to keep your beloved pet happy and healthy. Plus, since they ship right to your front door, the convenience simply can’t be beaten.
Their dog products range from shampoos to keep their coat and skin healthy to heartworm medication to keep them healthy for a very long time. Whatever special needs your pooch might have, Total Pet Supply is the place to go. Whether big or small, young or old, they have what you need for your special dog. For cats, they have everything from hairball remedies to flea solutions. Keeping your kitty healthy is an important responsibility for a pet owner, and they have the products you’ll need to give your cat a long and happy life.
Total Pet Supply is the place to go to keep your special pet in top shape. With value and customer service as top priorities, they are committed to giving you the best prices and a price match policy that guarantees you will get the lowest prices. Keeping you pet happy and healthy is a priority for any pet owner, so turn to Total Pet Supply for your pet’s health care needs and keep them around for a long time to come. From shampoos to medications, they’ve got everything you need for pet care and wellness.
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