Feeding Fido: How to be a Savvy Shopper When it Comes to Choosing the Right Food for Your Puppy

Puppies are very similar to infants in their early stages of life. Their growth, neurological, and immune systems development are in overdrive. That’s why you see babies and puppies taking plenty of naps throughout the day; it’s not just laziness!

Their bodies are hard at work setting them up with what they’ll need for the rest of their lives. And the number one way we can help to make this happen is by providing them with proper nutrition!

Dog Specific Nutritional Requirements

Knowing that your pup needs the right food is all well and good, but knowing the difference between the macro nutrients that are deemed healthy for humans, and those which best suit our pets is paramount to responsible dog ownership.

For a 30lb mature canine, their protein requirement is 18% of their total food consumption per day and only 9-15% of fat per day.

Puppies have higher fat and protein requirements when young, with a puppy up to 33lbs requiring 28% of their diet to be protein and 17% of fat per day. But be aware – as soon as your dog hits maturity, you must decrease this, as excess fat will cause severe medical conditions such as pancreatitis.

When looking on the back of any dog or puppy food container, you will see a guaranteed analysis of minimum nutritional values. Therefore, on your search for puppy food – you’re looking for this chart to display a minimum of:

1. Crude Protein 28%
2. Crude Fat 17%

If you can’t find food to suit your puppy with those exact nutritional values, it is possible to supplement either the fat or protein with human grade ingredients.

Deciphering the Ingredients

Now that you understand the amount of protein and fat that will best suit your pup; let’s get down to the most important bit – the ingredients.

With more and more of us steering our diets towards minimally processed, natural, plant based nutrition – we owe it to our four-legged-friends to pay as much attention to what we put into their bowls too.

Some of the big no-noes are foods that consist predominantly of bulking agents such as corn, wheat, or soy. Ideally, your dog should be eating more protein than anything, with the first ingredients being good quality protein either from animal sources or plant proteins.

A great tip for choosing a nutritious puppy food is to look out for which contain the least ingredients. The purer the food, often, the better the nutrition. Having said that, if the ingredient list is longer due to added vitamins and minerals – this can be a benefit to your puppy.

To make your life a little easier, we have come up with a quick list of good and bad ingredients when you’re on the lookout for a new puppy food!

GOOD INGREDIENTS

• Pure protein – animal or plant based
• Added vitamins and minerals
• Vegetables
• Omega fatty acids

BAD INGREDIENTS

• Meat meal
• Corn
• Wheat
• Food Dyes
• Rendered Fat

Reading through the nutritional contents on the back of a dog food bag doesn’t take long, and if you’re in a rush – you could call up your preferred dog food company; with your dog’s nutritional requirements in hand and ask them to get back to you once they’ve found a good fit.

Trust us; these companies will go out of their way to help. They got into the dog nutrition business for a reason, and that reason is to ensure the health and happiness of our four-legged-friends. When they get these kinds of requests from caring owners, they love it!

Varied Needs by Size And Breed

Not all dogs are the same. In fact, they’re all unique bundles of cuteness, so why would we expect them to require the same food?

It seems simple when you put it that way, but all too often people will buy a generic sack of dog food and throw a scoop of it into Fido’s bowl once or twice a day, and voila – they think that their pet is getting what they need. But this isn’t so, I mean, come on, a Chihuahua and a Great Dane aren’t going to do well having the same meals every day!

Many dog food companies will have their puppy food labeled depending on the size of canine it’s best suited to.

There is a way to calculate the rough amount of calories that your pooch will need, and this is often the way that veterinarians do it, but it does involve some maths so hold on! Take your dog’s weight in kg’s and multiply that by 52.5, the resulting number is the approximate KiloCalorie requirements of your pooch.

Diet to Overcome Health Problems

Many breeds suffer from hereditary medical conditions that can affect their quality of life quite significantly if not managed properly. Luckily, many of these conditions have masses of Veterinary research available for owners to learn about management.

Let’s take a look at some common breeds, the conditions that they are more likely to develop, and the ingredients that can help them overcome symptoms.

BREED CONDITION INGREDIENT

Labrador Cancer Vegetables

German Shepherd Hip Dysplasia Fortified with vitamins and minerals

Beagle Epilepsy Omega fatty acids

Miniature Schnauzer Diabetes High protein

Which Is Better – Wet Or Dry?

There is a big debate as to whether dry or wet food is better for a puppy’s health, but at the end of the day – it doesn’t matter. As long as the food meets the nutritional requirements of your pup, you could be feeding him NASA freeze dried dog food!

One of the biggest benefits that you often get from wet food is the fact that it can be fresher, and offer more water into your pup’s diet. But there is also an argument for dry food, with it being especially useful to help keep your dog’s teeth healthy, not to mention – it keeps for longer and is easy to store as it doesn’t require refrigeration.

Making the Decision

When you bring a puppy into your home, you’re committing to look after him to the best of your ability, and a big part of that is providing him with a healthy diet.

With so many companies adding all-natural, low carb puppy foods to their product lines, the choice has never been so vast, or so good!

Choosing your puppy’s food is a one off, and for that reason – you have to get it right! We have such a varied diet that if some meals lack in nourishment, we can make up for it elsewhere. But, for our dogs, they eat the same thing day in and day out, so their food needs to have a balance of everything their growing body needs.

P.S Congratulations on your new puppy!

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Hurricane Harvey flood apocalypse: How to help pets & their owners displaced by the storm

Hurricane Harvey, which recently wreaked havoc on Gulf Coast Residents in both Texas and Louisiana beginning Friday, August, 25th, is considered to be one to the most devastating storms in American History. This flood apocalypse created over 1 Trillion tons of rainfall resulting in altogether 450,000 people victim to the flood, with over 30,000 people and their pets now homesless. It is heartbreaking to imagine the devastation one must be experiencing as a pet owner or pet who is now a victim of this devastating storm.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Humane Society of the United States, Best Friends Animal Society, Wings of Rescue & GreaterGood.org have joined forces to create a national effort for providing relief and safety to pets in need. Many animals have already been flown out of danger and into other parts of the country where they will go up for adoption, making room for Texas and Louisiana-based animals shelters which continue to be inundated with homeless pets.

The aftermath of Hurricane Harvey will undoubtedly have lasting effects on its victims and their families. There are many things you can do to help both the pets and people who have been displaced from their homes.

1. If you are located in the Houston area, are an animal professional, and wish to volunteer your skills to relief efforts you can apply online to be a Specialty Volunteer through the Louisiana SPCA.

2. The SPCA of Texas is accepting online donations here although they are currently at-capacity for new volunteers or potential fosters.

3. You can also help by donating to or making a purchase from the Harris County Animal Shelter’s Amazon wish list. This shelter needs a variety of gear and supplies — even the smallest donation will make a difference.

4. If you are affiliated with a shelter or rescue group and are able to facilitate the transportation of Harvey’s pets into shelters in other states or are able to foster, we recommend you reach out to them and let them know that you can help in this way.

5. Austin Pets Alive! recently transported more than 500 pets to its shelter and are expecting hundreds more. They are in need of donations, fosters, and funding. For up-to-the-date information on their efforts and what they need please follow this link.

6. AKC Reunite also needs your help in both providing shelter to pet owners and their pets as well as reuniting those who have been separated during the storm. Click here to make a donation to their support and relief fund.

7. Airbnb’s Disaster Response Program allows you to open up your home to those in need or alternatively, to find emergency accommodations. All service fees are waived for those affected by the disaster and checking in between August 23, 2017, and September 25, 2017.

If you have more information on how to help the victims — both pets and their pet parents of Hurricane Harvey, please let us know in the comments below, message us on Facebook or Tweet us @FetchPetCare.

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5 Simple Tricks To Create A More Conscious Connection With Your Pets

 

It is easy to forget that animals are living creatures with a beating heart. All too often we as human beings seem to think that we have a monopoly on this planet and that we alone can feel emotion. However, this is not true in the slightest. Many of you may have seen the recent video on social media that was viral recently in which a dog recognized a man that had saved her, and showed her gratitude in a manner which moved each one present to tears. If you have not watched that video, you really should watch it right away!

Simply put, dogs cry, horses can discern facial expressions of humans, cats are smart, chimpanzees express emotions, etc. You could be forgiven for not knowing this, as perhaps our biggest flaw as human beings is the arrogance that we sometimes seem to exude which will inevitably bring about our downfall one day or the other. With that being said, the purpose of this article is not to shed light on philosophy so we will come back to the previous statement in some other article at a future point in time. For now, let us focus on how you can create a more conscious connection with your pets. Also, please note that there is a conflicting opinion on whether or not animals are ‘conscious’ and if they have free will or not. Regardless of which side you are on, it will not hurt to go through this article; perhaps you will change your mind.

1. Understand That Animals Have Emotions

The first step towards creating a more conscious connection with your pets is understanding that they have emotions. This is very important because only with understanding can there be respect. Animals may not emote in the same way we as human beings do, but that does not mean they do not feel emotion. Just last week I had the misfortune of witnessing a poor dog grieving for his beloved master. His howls and shrieks seemed to pierce through my heart. It was quite apparent that the pain and suffering he felt at that point in time was quite similar to what a human being in the same situation would have gone through. It is not just mere rhetoric; that animals can feel emotion is beyond any debate now. There is a high level of empirical evidence and research data to back this up. It is not just dogs, of course, virtually every animal can feel emotions: chimpanzees, tigers (of course you would likely not really want a fully grown tiger as a pet!), birds – you name it – can feel emotion. Animals are often referred to as sentient beings for this reason.

2. Respect The Animals

Once you understand that animals do have feelings and emotions, it becomes much easier to respect them. Much like humans, animals respond to compassion, respect, and kindness. Brain scans have shown that dogs are as conscious as human children, research suggests that dolphins can send the equivalent of instant holographic pictures to each other – the list goes on and on without even getting into physical prowess where many animals are superior to human beings.

Once animals understand that they are being respected, they develop a closer bond with you and trust you more. This goes a long way in creating a more conscious connection with your pets.

3. Keep The Pet Fit And Healthy. Follow A Routine

Do ensure that you follow a routine and that your pet is fit and healthy at all times. If your pet has any health concerns, it will become irritable and behave unreasonably which will prevent you from developing a more conscious connection with your pets. In the case of a close friend of mine – let us call her Sarah – her pet (a Labrador) became overly aggressive towards strangers and it was later found out that she had significant health problems which made her behave that way. Keeping that in mind, see a vet as often as possible and immediately if you suspect that something is wrong. Also, following a fixed routine also strengthens the bond between a pet and the owner as the former start looking forward to the activity or outing as soon as he/she senses that it is time. And don’t forget food, as it is one of the primary things that makes a pet either healthy and fit or ill. If you have a dog, for instance, understanding what can dogs eat and not eat will give you a better chance of keeping them fit and healthy.

4. Talk To Your pet – communicate!

Yes, talk! You should talk to your pet just as you would talk to a fellow human being. Many animals are extremely intelligent creatures (the world’s smartest dog reportedly has a vocabulary of 1000 words, just to put that in perspective) and respond well to communication. Again, just like it does with human beings, communication bridges gaps and brings everyone closer to each other. If you wish to develop a more conscious connection with your pet, it is imperative that you talk frequently and communicate. Usually, animals will also respond to communication provided they are feeling alright.

5. Train Your Pet (wherever possible)

As much as possible, ensure that your pet is well trained. Training helps keep your pet fit and obey your orders. This bodes well for your relationship with the pet. Of course, it is not always possible to train your pet – for example, most of you would have no clue about what to say or do if you have fish and that is fair enough; but wherever possible do make an effort.

Now to seal the article, there is that point so many are so skeptical about.

Can Pets And Humans Actually Heal Each Other?

The honest answer to this question is yes, but given that this requires a bit of leap of faith it is perfectly acceptable if you choose to sit on the fence on this one. However, do think about this: when you have a pet – whether it be a dog, a cat, fish or anything else – it becomes a part of your family over time, a near human if you will. There have been known cases of people passing away due to depression of losing a pet and vice-versa. Equally, there have been cases where owners and pets have cured each other’s depression. Therefore, it seems quite clear that pets and humans can actually heal each other.

Conclusion

Your takeaway from this article should be that if you follow the basic premise of the crux of this article, you will go a long way in developing a more conscious connection with your pet. A more conscious connection is nothing but making your pet more receptive to you and vice-versa. Certain people will argue that there is an element of supernatural to this. While that may be true, there is just far too much observatory evidence the other way to dismiss the whole thing. In a nutshell, keep your pet happy, make it feel safe and wanted, take it to the vet from time to time and above all respect and understand it. Your life will be much better for it.

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Woman Who Asked for the ‘Oldest, Hardest to Adopt Dog’ is Restoring Our Faith in Humanity

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and this picture definitely tells it all! Sweet Jake had been at the Front Street Animal Shelter for a long time. He was old with cancer and a skin infection — no one wanted him. But Melani came into the shelter and asked for the oldest, hardest dog to adopt. This was Jakes time to shine! In that moment, everything changed for this sweet soul and Jake now has a forever home.

For many dogs like Jake, the outcome is not so happy. Senior dogs are considered the most difficult to rehome thus being the most likely to get euthanized to make room for other animals in need. Many senior dogs are dropped off at shelters because of the expense due to health problems the pet may have developed. This is also the reason they are often passed up at shelters. Thankfully, programs like the Mr. Mo Project are helping place senior dogs in loving foster homes where they can live out their remaining years.

What many people don’t realize about senior dogs is they actually come with a lot of benefits too! Most have already lived in a home and they know how to interact with people and are house-trained. They also can enjoy playtime as much as a puppy and are great snugglers!

Like Melani, if you are looking for a great dog, a loyal companion, and to save a life … consider adopting or fostering a gray muzzled furry friend.

All Image Source: Front Street Animal Shelter/Facebook

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On-the-road with Fido: safety tips for happy trips

Summer is here, and you’re likely planning fun day trips with your family or maybe even a much-needed getaway for a few days. Once you’ve decided that you’ll be vacationing with your dog and have your Fetch! Pet Care sitter booked to look after your cat and fish while you’re away, the next step is then to ensure Fido’s safety while on-the-road.

Yet the thought of packing up her bowl and bone and driving to the coast with her panting out the back window may fill you with trepidation. If it’s not something you’ve done in the past, and if you have a noisy human pack to deal with too, it may seem like more effort than it’s worth. This isn’t the case. With a bit of common sense, some planning, and just a few spare dollars, you can easily make the shared car trip a pleasure for you and your pet, so you don’t have to spend the best weeks of summer without each other’s company.

There are a number of solutions for keeping her secure while you drive. If you have kids to transport too, it’s possible that the only spare room for your dog is in the way back of your SUV or station wagon. Well, a decent SUV way back is around the size of a decent kennel, so it’s a great option as long as you take steps to make it safe and comfortable. A dog who doesn’t fidget too much may even agree with being put in a dog crate to travel in the way back; a bigger dog, or one that likes to rearrange her sleeping position every few minutes, may be happy just with blankets. In this case, you should also think about buying a dog guard to put between the trunk and the back seat, so she neither jumps into the main body of the car nor is thrown there by a sudden unexpected stop.

If you have a bit of space in the rear seat, it can be nice to keep her up with the family instead. There are some great seat harnesses available that work with your existing human seat belt fixtures which can be found at your local pet supplies store or on Amazon. We recommend that alternatively, you buy a carry box that hangs safely over the back seat, giving a smaller dog a secure, elevated spot from which to observe what’s going on and feel like part of the pack.

If it’s just you and another traveling, then, of course, your dog could have the luxury of the whole rear seat to herself. In that case, if you trust her to stay relatively calm and still, you can actually buy a doggy hammock that hangs off the front and rear headrests to create a kind of cradle of the back seat – so she can’t fall into the foot space or get thrown up into the front. It’s good to get one with a non-slip underside so that your dog can stay securely on the seat.

We all know what a pain kids can be when you’re on a long drive, but for dogs, it’s even less natural – and they won’t always let you know when they’re unhappy. For this reason, it’s a good idea to take plenty of breaks as you travel. Stop when you can, and put her on the leash for a couple of minutes walk to cool off, have a drink of water, and go potty.

Here’s a handy infographic from our friends at Budget Direct to refer to if you plan on taking your dog on-the-road…

How To Keep Your Dog Safe In The Car, brought to you by Budget Direct

What are some of your safety tips when traveling with your dog? Let us know in the comments below…

 

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A Crash Course on Diabetes in Pets

Pet owners who love their dogs or cats share a lot with their furry friends, from table scraps to a place on their couch or bed. Unfortunately, just like humans, dogs and cats run the risk of developing diabetes, which can severely hamper their health and lead to a host of other problems. Fortunately, however, pet owners who watch for the early warning signs of diabetes can get their pets the treatment they need to lead longer, happier lives while managing the disease. As is the case with most diseases, early diagnosis and prevention are the key to keeping dogs and cats with diabetes healthier for longer periods of time.

Just as it is in humans, diabetes in dogs and cats means the body does not produce enough insulin, the hormone produced in the pancreas that controls the level of glucose in the blood. Without this essential hormone, glucose levels in the body of a dog or cat can accumulate to unsafe levels. Glucose can pass through the body without being absorbed into the bloodstream and urine, where it draws large volumes of water with it. Because glucose exits the body without entering the bloodstream, the body’s cells don’t get enough of the critical fuel they need to stay healthy. The body will begin to break down fat and muscle tissue to be converted into sugar so that the metabolic process can continue.

Although diabetes can be a serious condition, pet owners who are concerned about the health of their dogs or cats can look for the warning signs and get their pets the early treatment they need to stay healthy. The primary warning signs in dogs and cats include increased thirst and water consumption, along with weight loss and decreased appetite. Chronic and recurring infections, especially skin and urinary infections, also are signs that a dog or cat may be diabetic. Cloudy eyes, especially in dogs, are another sign that the pet owner should take his or her pet to the vet as soon as possible for testing.

This was created by  Cash Now Offer

There are a variety of risk factors that may increase a dog’s or cat’s risk of developing diabetes, but it is possible for any dog or cat to develop the disease. The most significant risk factor is obesity, which has been found to increase the risk of diabetes in cats three- to five-fold. Obesity also can lead to kidney or pancreatic disease that can trigger diabetes or worsen its symptoms. Age is another significant risk factor, with more dogs between ages 8 and 12 being diagnosed with the disease, and more cats between ages 9 and 13. Female dogs are twice as likely as male dogs to become diabetic, but male cats are one-and-a-half times as likely as female cats to develop the disease. Male cats that have been neutered have twice the risk of diabetes, and long-term use of medications containing corticosteroids put both dogs and cats at a much higher risk. Certain breeds, such as dachshunds and beagles for dogs and Burmese cats, are genetically predisposed to have a higher risk of diabetes.

Once a dog or cat is diagnosed as being diabetic, a veterinarian may prescribe regular insulin injections. The dog or cat will need to be put on a special balanced diet and get regular exercise. People who own diabetic pets will need to give their dogs and cats special care for the rest of their lives. However, by doing this, pet owners can ensure that they will be able to share many happy memories with their pets in that time.

Author bio: Thomas Boston is Founder of Cash Now Offer. Cash Now Offer provides cash for unused diabetic test strips and is focused on educating people about diabetes

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8 Great Gifts for the Dachshund Lover

Small in size but large in spirit, the Dachshund is a breed known for its loyalty, curiosity, and intelligence. Dachsie owners are also known for their loyalty to the breed, with many people who have owned a wiener dog resistant to choosing any other breed. Show the Dachshund lover in your life how much you care with these awesome gifts from around the Internet. Whether you’re looking for the perfect blanket, a silly T-shirt, or a touching memorial to a Doxie that has passed away, check out these sites.

1. “Stubborn Dachshund Tricks” T-Shirt

Spreadshirt.com illustrates exactly how that strong mindset can feel both frustrating and ridiculous. Check out a wide selection of other Dachshund-themed shirts on Spreadshirt.

2. Dachshund Backpack

Perfect for back to school or anyone who’s looking for an adorable bag, this Dachshund Backpack from KISS GOLD is available on Amazon. Made of high density canvas with a polyester fiber interior, the backpack is large enough to hold a 14-inch laptop and all of your doggie treats!

3. Dachshund Comforters

Dream wonderful Doxie dreams when you sleep under an adorable Dachshund comforter from the wide selection at Society6. This website is a community where independent artists can offer their designs to the public and have them printed on a variety of products, including comforters, T-shirts, mugs, and more. The charming Dachshund comforter shown above is by artist Elena O’Neill. You can check out all of her designs at society6.com/elenaoneill.

4. Dachshund Cremation Urns

While we never want to think about the day when we might lose our beloved Dachsie, you may find some peace in knowing that you can create a meaningful memorial to your pet. Perfect Memorials has created a whole line of affordable dog breed urns, including the lovely Dachshund Figurine Cremation Urn shown above. This urn can hold the ashes of a dog that weighed up to 70 pounds, and you can add your own custom engraving on the font. Check out all of their dog urns, including more traditional vase-style containers and wooden boxes with picture frames.

5. Dachshund Door Mats

Our love for Doxies doesn’t blind us to their challenges. This cute Dachshund Door Mat from I Love Dachshunds is made from thick 100% Olefin indoor/outdoor carpet and looks great anywhere in your home. Makes a great rug for the kitchen or bedroom too!

6. This Delightful Dachshund Patterned Tote bag

Our love for Doxies doesn’t blind us to their challenges. This cute Dachshund Door Mat from I  Love Dachshunds is made from thick 100% Olefin indoor/outdoor carpet and looks great anywhere in your home. Makes a great rug for the kitchen or bedroom too!

7. Dachshund Cookie Cutters

Creating cookies 6 inches long (!), PetMyWiener.com offers wonderful Dachshund Cookie Cutters made of tinplate steel. They are custom made for the site, so you won’t find this loveable design anywhere else. The large size makes the cookies easy and fun to decorate! Use the cookie cutter to shape other soft foods or even for kids’ craft projects. PetMyWiener.com has many other Doxie gifts, and 5% of all of their sales are donated to Dachshund rescue organizations.

8. “They’re Good Dogs, Brent” T-Shirt

OK, this shirt isn’t specific to Dachshund lovers, but that doesn’t make your pupper any less worthy. This shirt is produced by the well-loved Twitter account WeRateDogs™, your #1 source for professional dog ratings! The account includes many photos of adorable dogs looking cute and doing silly things, each one rated between 12 to 14 out of 10, because they’re all good dogs, Brent.

Which would you gift the Dachsund lover in your life? Let us know in the comments below…

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