When our pets are showing symptoms like chewing or licking paws, itching and scratching, ear infections, hair loss or bald spots, hives, sneezing or runny eyes, they are communicating with us that they are suffering from food or environmental allergies. Allergies happen when your pet’s immune system overreacts to something in their environment, known as a “trigger.” Allergies develop from ingredients in your pet’s diet or something in the environment that triggers a response. Food … [Read more...] about How to Help Pets Suffering from Allergies
Sandy Haffner
What Ingredients on a Pet Food Bag Tell Us
When making a selection for a dry kibble food out of a bag, have you ever wondered what all the ingredients mean in the ingredient panel? Do you ever wonder why the pet food manufacturer will put certain ingredients in the bag of food? Do you know why there is a long list of ingredients that you can’t pronounce or know what they are? It’s so important for us to understand what our pets need in their diet to not only survive, but to thrive in life. Understanding what is in the food we feed our … [Read more...] about What Ingredients on a Pet Food Bag Tell Us
What Cats Need in Their Diet
We know that the housecats’ DNA leads us back five lineages, near the east region of the world. The climate is hot, with no vegetation and little rainfall. All cats are obligate carnivores. Obligate means necessity. Their diet must consist of meat and organs for them to survive. The carnivore jawline is a lateral movement that only moves up and down. It does not move side to side. Their teeth are designed for tearing and their skull is capable of biting with extreme force. Then they will swallow … [Read more...] about What Cats Need in Their Diet
Understanding How Protein Provides Optimal Health for Pets
Protein is an important part of your pet’s diet. Protein, which is made of amino acids, plays a significant role in optimal health for pets. It helps support muscles, skin health, nails and coat. Protein is also essential for supporting a strong immune system and is an essential source of energy. Without enough protein in their diet, it forces their body to break down muscles to fill the gap of their needed amino acids. That will ultimately lead to nutritional deficiencies and overall health … [Read more...] about Understanding How Protein Provides Optimal Health for Pets
Understanding Leaky Gut Syndrome in Dogs
Your dog’s intestines are organs that play a huge role in the health of the entire body. They break down food so the body can absorb needed nutrients. At the same time, the waste waits inside the gut to be passed. The walls of the intestines ensure that water and nutrients are used by the body. The toxins and pathogens get stuck in the intestines until they’re released. Inflammation creates gaps between the individual cells lining the walls, known as Leaky Gut Syndrome. These gaps allow … [Read more...] about Understanding Leaky Gut Syndrome in Dogs
Is a Dog a Carnivore or an Omnivore?
A carnivore is an animal that consumes only flesh. Cats, for example, are more readily agreed upon by most to be carnivores. By definition, an animal that eats all kinds of foods, of both animal and plant origin, is an omnivore. Humans are considered omnivores. Then there are the herbivores, animals that feed on plants, such as horses and cattle. The digestion of a plant-based diet is by nature very different than the digestion of a meat-based diet. Plants contain quite a bit of cellulose and … [Read more...] about Is a Dog a Carnivore or an Omnivore?
Supporting Police Dog Heroes
There are unsung heroes in our midst and they need our help. Meet two of the police dogs of the Prescott Police Department K-9 Unit, Cooper and Benny, yellow Labradors that are highly trained in the detection of narcotics. Also known as Super Cooper and B-Dog, they work in concert with their two handlers, police officers Alltop and Crawford, to keep dangerous drugs off the streets in the Prescott area. Although grants fund some of the needs of the K-9 Unit, little is left to cover … [Read more...] about Supporting Police Dog Heroes
Understanding the Microbiome of the Dog
Did you know that the dog has trillions of little friends who manage his microbiome? Your dog is made up of trillions of little cells. These cells form your dog’s bones, organs and skin. And their functions are controlled by your dog’s genes. There are other residents in your dog such as tiny little microorganisms like bacteria, fungi and viruses. The bacteria in your dog outnumber his cells 10 to 1! The bacteria genes outnumber your dog’s genes by more than 100 times. These little communities … [Read more...] about Understanding the Microbiome of the Dog
