Tag: Wholistic Pet Organics

Diet Changes for Your Cat – What You Need to Add!

Written by Colleen Sedgwick. Posted in Health and Safety.

Before cats became civilized and domesticated, their primary diet consisted of raw meat. Of course, you aren’t going to let your cat out to grab a bite to eat for dinner every night, so you’ll feed him/her a commercial cat food. But what kinds are the right ones that provide a balanced and nutritious diet that your fur ball will thrive on?

Well, if you understand the 5 ways to improve their diet, you can keep your kitty happy and healthy for life.

Veggies are Good

You may think that as a carnivore, a cat only needs meat to survive. The truth is that even when they were wild they always took in some veggies by eating grass or the digested vegetation in their prey’s stomach. So, giving your kittycat a few veggies is a nice little treat. Familiarize them into your cat’s diet by mixing them into their regular cat food, or if they will have them, giving bits and pieces as treats. Some veggie suggestions are broccoli, green beans, squash, and carrots, but always make sure that meat makes up the bulk of your cat’s diet. However, a few veggies added every once in a while is a good thing.

Always Serve Cooked Meat

Yes, cats ate raw meat in the wild, and they also got parasites like worms too. Meat treats are terrific for your cat, but be safe and make sure they are well cooked.

Eggs Make Great Snacks

Eggs are a wonderful source of protein and B vitamins, and it doesn’t matter if they are sunny side up, over easy or hard boiled. Just make sure they are cooked, and you’ll be good to go.

Add Omega 3’s to Their Diet

Essential fatty acids, like Omega 3’s, are just as good for cats as they are for humans. Cold water fish are loaded with them, they are heart healthy and your cat’s fur will be silkier and shiny. Better still, research shows that they slow the spread of cancer, and if your cat has arthritis, they’ll reduce the inflammation.

… And Probiotics

If your cat has digestive problems, probiotics are the best thing you can do for them. Probiotic supplements are known for creating more effective and efficient digestion while strengthening a cat’s immune system too.

Follow the suggestions as illustrated, and you’ll see for yourself that a healthy diet means a healthy cat.

Thanks Feline Living for the great tips and infographic!

Up-to-Date Food Recalls – Keeping Your Pet Safe

Written by Colleen Sedgwick. Posted in Health and Safety.

As pet parents, we all try our hardest to keep our fur babies safe and healthy! Sometimes that delicious food or those tasty treats aren’t so safe though… Most of us don’t have a real-time option for pet food recalls. This leaves us relying on social media or the news to find out and by then it could be too late!
Fret no more! Bookmark this page for your #1 resource for current pet food recalls courtesy of PawDiet.com.

Recalls By PawDiet.com

What causes a food recalls?

Pet food recalls happen when the food company because aware that a batch that has left the factory may have become tainted. Sometimes they are alerted to potential issues internally, other times recalls don’t happen until the company is alerted by a concerned pet owner who has had an issue.

Sometimes these recalls occur due to contaminants – some that could be deadly. Other times because of plastic, metal, or other foreign bits could be contained in it. Sometimes it could be simply that the food was mislabeled.

Food Labels and Your Pet’s Needs

Written by Colleen Sedgwick. Posted in Health and Safety.

Food labels can be confusing – whether they’re for you or your pet! Do you know what your pet is eating? Keep your pets fit, healthy, and trim by understanding those sometimes tricky labels!

Know Your Pet Food Labels!

Know the right quantity – Different pet food has different nutritional values. Talk to your vet and be sure you know what your pet needs for their breed and size, then follow the serving sizes accordingly!
Real vs “Flavored” – Know the difference between brands that contains real meat, vs meat flavor. Wording on the bag will let you know approximately how much meat it actually contains, thanks to AFFCO regulations. Food that contains 100% meat is easy to determine – it will say so! Wording gets a little foggier though as that percentage drops. If it drops to around 25% it will often be advertised as “Chicken Dinner” or “Beef entree”. Around 3% will be described as “contains” or “with”, and none at all will say “flavored”.
Know how to read the ingredients – Lots of people don’t know that the order ingredients are listed in (this goes for people food too!) is important! Ingredient lists are designed to start with the largest quantity, by weight, with the first item listed being the main ingredient and the last item listed being the smallest. The first three ingredients should be the top sources of protein. Most ingredients that come after “salt”, make up less than 1% of the food.
Dry vs Wet – Most adult pets eat a dry kibble, but you should know that there is a greater difference between dry and wet food than just the texture! This handy infographic will help you understand:

You are what you eat, and that goes for your pets too! Make smart choices and know your pets unique needs.

Earth Day Tips for Your Pet!

Written by Colleen Sedgwick. Posted in Pet tip of the Week.

With Earth Day still fresh on our minds (it was last Friday!), have you ever considered your pet’s carbon footprint? Or small changes you could make to be a greener pet owner?

Green Pets For Earth Day!

Green Pet Toys – While you may be tempted to treat your pet with a new toy each time you head out the pickup supplies, most pets don’t know the difference between a bought toy and a homemade one! Not to mention there is no telling what unhealthy chemicals are in/on the plastic and polyester toys commercially available. Dogs love sticks, bones, or even old shoes! Cats are suckers for balls of yarn, pens, and really anything they can swat around the house!
Spay and Neuter – Believe it or not, this may be the greenest thing you can do! Nearly 8 million pets are euthanized in animal shelters each year. The resources to house, feed, and eventually euthanize 8 million pets are huge. Spaying or neutering your pet can not only help the planet but prevent animal suffering if you are unable to care for all the potential offspring yourself!

Scoop or “Pickup” Cleaner – Whether you’re a cat, dog, or even bunny owner, resources are often used disposing of their waste… Consider trying out eco-friendly plastic bags in honor of Earth Day! Poopbags.com sells biodegradable baggies made just for your pet’s “business”. Use it on walks, or place one in a small container with a lid next to your litterbox and scoop into it daily, then toss at weeks end! If you’ve got a bunny and space for composting, rabbit manure is praised by gardeners and most rabbit litter is compost friendly too!
Avoid Plastics – When possible opt for metal or ceramic pet accessories. They usually last longer, are more natural, and consume less resources to make! Next time you need to replace water and food dishes, litter boxes (yup, they make metal litterboxes!), bedding, toys, collars, etc., opt for the real thing, no plastics or polyesters need apply!

Do you have your own ways you “go green” with your pet(s)? Share them with us in honor of Earth Day 2016!

Infographic Courtesy Of Ultimate Home Life

photo credit: via photopin (license)

Pet Care As Your Companion Ages – Signs and What to Do

Written by Colleen Sedgwick. Posted in Health and Safety.

Pet care evolves throughout each furry critters life-span. Just like with humans, the way you care for a baby is different from that of an adult or elderly pet. Do you know how to properly care for your pet at the different stages in their life?

The unique pet care required for young animals seems to be well taught. Pet owners are quick to provide soft and easily digested foods for those that are recently weaned. Many also understand that growing pets need extra nutrients and plenty of play time to develop a strong body. Vaccinations and wormers are also all musts. As they approach adulthood, pet care often becomes more standardized unless you have a pet with special needs. In most cases, it consists simply of a nutritious feeding twice a day with plenty of fresh water and daily exercise.

Pet Care for Aging Companions

What about pet care for aging pets though? Unfortunately, this often gets overlooked for a multitude of reasons. It’s easy to forget that your pet ages a lot faster than you and will likely enter their golden years long before you. When your pet does begin to need specialized care it’s not always obvious. Maybe you’re too busy or distracted to notice the subtle struggles your pet is undergoing? Be sure to take note of some simple signs and know how to care for your pet accordingly.

Aging Pet Care Tips

Talk to your vet – It sounds obvious but if you’re less than prompt about those yearly check-ups and only hit the vets office when something is clearly amiss, you may not realize your pets true age. Talking to your vet about when you should start looking to change up your pets nutrition and habits is a great way to stave off those symptoms of age and ensure your pets continued comfort.

Notice your pet’s energy levels – Are they ready for a rest much sooner than usual? Do they act languid before their old play routine is over? Take note of your pet’s energy levels and adjust play time accordingly. Note that this doesn’t mean stop playing with your pet – just play with them differently. Shorten their walking circuit. Shrink their play space so their toys aren’t so spread out. Take them for shorter but more frequent frolics. Essentially know their limits and cater to them accordingly.

Watch their eating and bathroom habits – As pets age, they sometimes need softer food that is easy to digest just like young animals do. If you find they are eating less or seem to have trouble chewing try switching foods. Additionally, if your pet has always had good bathroom habits but lately they seem prone to accidents or going outside their box or “zone” you may need to make adjustments. If your cat uses a litter box try getting one with a lower entry point for easier access. If your dog waits to go outside try introducing puppy pads so there is a safe place for them to go in the house in case they can’t hold it.

Test for nutritional deficiencies – Some pets will experience hair loss and vision or hearing problems. In most cases, the level of pet care you provide will be limited to simply trying to make their life with the disability easier. Some of these problems can be lessened or slowed by correcting nutritional deficiencies associated with age. Consider having your pet checked regularly as they age.

Fruits & Veggies For Your Pet? You Bet!

Written by Colleen Sedgwick. Posted in Fun Articles, Health and Safety, Uncategorized.

While fruits and veggies for some pets are common-sense, like rabbits or hamsters, they can seem a little unorthodox for dogs and cats! It turns out that many fruits and veggies can add a lot of important nutrients to your pet’s diet that even the more expensive dog or cat foods can be missing. They can also be a great way to help an overweight pet slim down! At this point, you may be asking yourself whether or not your could get Fido to eat a cabbage? How interested is Snowball going to be in a banana? You might be surprised! It’s all about presentation and learning your pet’s preferences!

That being said, be careful introducing new fruits and veggies into your pet’s diet though. Changes in diet can cause stomach upset in some pets so new items should be introduced slowly and in small quantities at first. Be sure to always wash all produce before you feed it to your cat or dog. Pesticides, germs, and imported fungi or bacteria can make your pet sick too. A simple and quick way to clean your pets produce is to take it straight from the grocery bag and submerge it in a weak vinegar solution in a bowl or your kitchen sink. The vinegar helps to cut the waxy coatings that can make the pesticides adhere to the fruits and veggies and help them rinse cleaner!

WARNING – Always remember to remove all seeds from fruit before feeding it to your pet! Especially apple seeds, which contain small amounts of arsenic. It’s not enough to hurt a human in most cases, but in small pets over time it can cause illness. Also, beware of pits in things like peaches and apricots, which can be a choking hazard! If your pet has a tender belly avoid citrus which can cause upset stomachs, as well as grapes and raisins since they can cause kidney damage in dogs and cats. It’s best to avoid corn, onions, and garlic too.

When introducing the new items, be sure to cut them up into bite-size pieces! You may find it easier to mince them up and mix them in with your pets regular food until they get used to the taste. Who knows though, some pets love fruits and veggies! This summer, if you’re feeling like really giving your pet a treat, try blending them up a smoothie with ice to cool them off and give them a nutritious boost!

What are some of the best fruits and veggies to introduce to your pet?

Blueberries
Strawberries
Banana
Apricot
Apples
Pineapple
Pear
Watermelon

Bell Peppers
Cabbage
Sweet Potato
Spinach
Green Beans
Pumpkin
Carrots
Cucumber

What about canned fruits and veggies? Try to avoid them since most canned fruits contain added sugars and preservatives, and canned veggies can contain added salt. When possible, stick to fresh produce and don’t try to feed your pet anything you wouldn’t eat too!

photo credit: Moby’s writing table – 43/52 via photopin (license)

Cost of Pets: What Cost and Which Breeds Take the Cake?

Written by Colleen Sedgwick. Posted in Health and Safety, Pet tip of the Week.

How Much Does Your Pet Cost?

With pets in American increasingly being treated like children as opposed to animals the cost of pet ownership is soaring! Pet spending topped $56 billion dollars in 2014 and is expected to reach or exceed $60 billion in 2015. What are American’s spending such large amounts of cash on? Not vet bills like one would think. Turns out most of the spending is being put into healthier pet foods. Healthy pet food totals over a third of that yearly total. Maybe because of this investment in more quality and nutrient rich food, veterinary bills are now the second costliest part of pet ownership.

Are you a dog or cat person? do you prefer rabbits or other small animals? If finances are an obstacle for you, then you need to choose wisely before you bring a companion home from the local pet store or shelter.

While dogs often top spending over cats and other house pets, the dog breed that seems to rack up the most in vet bills and general care, surprisingly, is the Rottweiler. Large dog breeds garner significantly higher costs than any other house pet. The Rottweiler breed is especially susceptible to many allergies as well as gastric disorders which can lead to regular vet bills, medications, and specialized care. Other expensive dogs to care for include Great Danes, English Bulldogs and Ragdolls.

While cats are generally less known for specific breeds, the famous Siamese Cat is notably more expensive than your average house cat. Siamese cats are prone to respiratory disorders as well as liver diseases. Again, hitting your wallet much harder than a small pet like a hamster or gerbil.

Overall, most specialized breeds of pets are going to be prone to medical issues unique to their variety. Make it a point to research well and know things you can do right from the start to minimize your pets need for veterinary care. Want more information about the annual cost of pets per year? Check out the ASPCA website for a breakdown!

photo credit: <a href=”https://www.flickr.com/photos/my_minime/2591002720/”>MandCo</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a> <a href=”http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/”>cc</a>

Tips for Holistic Pet Care

Written by Colleen Sedgwick. Posted in Health and Safety, Pet Nanny news.

Are you on the fence about holistic pet care, and not sure what it’s all about? Holistic pet care is essentially a healthier way to care for your pets, and can be a bit more costly. However, OneGreenPlanet.org recently came out with an informative blog post about important things to know about holistic pet care, and we felt compelled to share them on our site also:

“Holistic” essentially means the “whole” of the being; mind, body and spirit. This also means being in tune with your pet and having a compatibility in knowing when your pet can heal him or herself.

A “holistic approach” means attempting to treat the “whole” animal and not just one specific area of your pet. Therefore, important attention needs to be paid to your pet’s diet; i.e, nutrition, exercise, preventative care and supplements.

Vaccinations, immunizations, and non-natural medications are usually avoided.

The differences between conventional and holistic veterinary care are:

a. Traditional veterinary care looks at the single problem, instead of looking at the root of the problem. A holistic vet takes a look at the growth, then evaluates the whole pet to determine what led to the growth, and what could have possibly contributed to it. The traditional and holistic vet complement each other, and both should be considered for the overall needs and well-being of the pet.

Source: http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/4-things-to-know-about-holistic-pet-care/

The Most Common Skin Problems in Dogs and Cats: Part 2

Written by Colleen Sedgwick. Posted in Health and Safety, Pet Nanny news, Pet Products.

With this article, we’ll focus on the last three remaining skin issues mostly common in our dogs and cats. Most of these problems occur with dermatitis. The first three focused on environmental, nutritional and parasitic dermatitis, which explained the causes and effects, and we provided several of our products that will eliminate and prevent these common skin issues.

The next three common skin issues are:

Infectious Dermatitis, which are transmitted through bacteria, fungal and yeast organisms that present themselves in the form of ringworm, malassezia pachydermatitis, which is a common irritant for pet’s skin. With a yeast infection, it is suggested that something else much more serious is going on, and is consistent with hypothyroidism; chronic administration of cortisone medication or dietary fatty acid deficiency. The most common of these is bacterial dermatitis, as dogs will lick the infected area causing sores or lesion to re-open, thus reversing any healing the infected area has completed. The best treatments for infectious dermatitis are topical ointment or oral antibiotics, and sometimes clipping the hair from the area to dry easier and faster. Many infections and irritants lie in the urinary tract, and our Wholistic WholeCran Intense, with organic cranberry powder, is loaded with antioxidants to maintain a healthy urinary tract.

Allergic Dermatitis is exactly what one thinks it is; it’s an allergic reaction that affects the skin. Dogs and cats, much like humans, are affected by various factors in the environment, as well as food ingredients, synthetic and natural fibers, medications and pharmaceutical products, among many others. There are several different kinds of allergic dermatitis, however, and the most prominent one is atopic dermatitis. Atopic dermatitis occurs when there “are a number of antigens, including inhaled substances such as molds, dust, pollens and other static and airborne microscopic organic substances.” Much like infectious dermatitis, preventative methods come in the form of topical ointments, baths to relieve the itching and scratching, including sprays. The biggest proponent to relieve the stress of allergic dermatitis is cortisone. Changing your dog’s diet is one helpful way to reduce the onslaught of allergic dermatitis, along with substances in the home causing an attack of allergies that affect them inwardly and outwardly. Try giving a bath with our Wholistic Heavenly Herbal Pet Shampoo to ease the itching of your precious pup. For your feline, try giving our Wholistic Sea Blend, fortified with rich minerals from nutrient rich waters, that are free from pollutants and heavy metal contamination.

The last most common skin problem is Neurogenic Dermatitis, which is caused by a persistent, obsessive and compulsive licking, which is a result of boredom, stress, anxiety, or a physical abrasion, such as a tiny scratch, lesion, etc. Because of this incessant licking and picking at the area, bacteria infection sets in and, as a result, can cause permanent damage. It is recommended that a specialist in dermatology or a behaviorist could best determine the reason for this specific portion of dermatitis. Overall, determining the cause behind your pet’s dermatitis is the underlying and most important matter. If you need to change your dog’s diet, there are many ways to cease and remove the constant of your pet’s dermatitis. Being patient, yet persistent, in determining the underlying factor is key.

We hope these six common skin issues in dogs and cats have helped you with determining the ailing factor of your dog and cat, and hope that some, if not all, of our recommended products will help you in alleviating and maintaining your pet’s skin issues. Have you tried any of our products that you would recommend that have helped you with your pet?

Article Source: http://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/evr_dg_itch_and_scratch_bite_and_lick

The Most Common Skin Problems in Dogs and Cats: Part 1

Written by Colleen Sedgwick. Posted in Health and Safety, Pet Nanny news, Pet Products.

Although our dogs and cats will occasionally scratch when they have an itch, whether it behind their ear or front leg, etc., incessant scratching is not common. According to PetMD.com, there are six main reasons why dogs and cats scratch.

Often times, when we see our pets scratch we don’t think much of it. On the other hand, there are times when the scratching is persistent and we must not dismiss it.

These six reasons are part of a main category resulting from dermatitis, and the categories are listed below.

*Environmental

*Nutritional

*Parasitic

*Allergic

*Neurogenic

*Infectious

These categories also become more challenging the more frequently they are diagnosed. T.J. Dunn states that the simplest diagnosis begins with environmental dermatitis, and is progressively complicated with the diagnosis of neurogenic dermatitis. Environmental dermatitis is a result of what pets are exposed to, but their skin doesn’t agree with it. By matching the environmental irritant to the pet’s skin, you can determine preventative methods. There are different examples, such as moist eczema and contact with plastics can cause environmental dermatitis. We will focus on the top three most common categories; environmental, nutritional and parasitic.

Nutritional dermatitis occurs because of a lack of nutrition. When fed appropriate amounts of a balanced diet, your pet’s nutrition is stable, and you’ll see results immediately. Quality dog and cat food consists of organic, all-natural, grain-free and veterinary-prescribed diet food. Our products, Wholistic Canine Complete for dogs, along with Wholistic Feline Complete for cats, adds in essential organic and super-premium ingredients for your pet. These are both supplements that can provide optimum results for your pet’s health, in addition to their current diet. Your pet will also maintain a shiny and supple coat when eating well, and this can be maintained also with our Wholistic Flax Seed Oil, which is pure, organic and cold-pressed flax seed oil that produces heavy concentrations, resulting in a high-shine coat for your pet.

Parasitic dermatitis is mostly a common form of fleas and ticks, and an overexposure to an area where they are inhabited, can result in an overly sensitive reaction to even a single bite from a flea. The bite results in allergic dermatitis due to the saliva of the flea. Other intense reactions from parasites similar to fleas are Cheyletiella mites, scabies (red mange), and Demodex mites. All of these parasitic dermatitis result from excessive or repeated exposure to an infected environment, stresses from a disease, poor nutrition or immune disorder. This can be prevented by providing supplements and nutrition support to your pet, such as Wholistic Diatomaceous Earth, Wholistic Alfalfa Powder, both excellent and highly recommended for your dog and cat. We will focus on the next three categories of dermatitis in a future article.

Do you find yourself struggling with common skin problems with your cat or dog? If so, what preventative method(s) have you found to be the most effective?