Live Well
The official Blog of Wellness Natural Pet Food

If your dog suffers from food allergies or intolerances, you’re probably wondering, “What can I do for my itching and irritated fur friend?” We know, it’s ruff to watch your pup itching instead of enjoying a hearty game of fetch. Luckily, there are dog foods out there that are specifically designed to combat allergies. As a pet parent, you’ll want to find food for dogs with allergies that don’t contain symptom-inducing ingredients while providing optimal nutrition. Symptoms of food allergies and intolerances vary from dog to dog, but the most common ones include: Itchiness Red, irritated skin Rashes Flatulence Vomiting Diarrhea Anaphylaxis (rare) Food allergies come from the dog’s immune system overreacting to proteins and other molecules in the food, such as additives, coloring, and preservatives. Allergies can develop as a dog gets older, usually from prolonged exposure and contact. Common allergens include: Beef Dairy Wheat Chicken Corn Eggs Soy Food intolerance is different from a food allergy in that the dog’s immune system isn’t reacting to the food. Instead, the digestive system cannot break down foods. For example, lactose intolerance is a food intolerance where humans don’t produce the necessary enzymes to digest lactose, a milk sugar. Dogs can have the same intolerances to proteins and carbohydrates in their food. Beef Dairy Wheat Egg Chicken Soy While food intolerances are much more common than allergies, many of the symptoms and the causes overlap (notice the above two lists are

Many people assume cats can’t be trained. Not true! Cats are very trainable and can be highly motivated when using appropriate, positive, cat-friendly techniques. The best time to start training is when your cat is a kitten. Begin the process when you first bring your kitten home because she’s ready to learn. There are many things you’ll need to teach her, but here are six basic lessons. Your kitten is small and easy to hold now, but when she’s grown, you’ll need to pick her up and hold her for any number of reasons, such as medicating, nail trims, or safety. If you start training her now to accept being touched and held, it will pay off as she matures. Do several short training sessions per day where you pet your kitten and touch different body parts such as ears, tail, and paws. Touch her along the mouth and gently rub the teeth. Make training positive and don’t create frustration by trying to do long sessions. Many cats don’t get seen by the veterinarian often enough because cat parents dread the carrier battle. Being able to get your cat easily and safely into a carrier lowers her stress during travel, reduces your risk of being injured, and can save valuable time in an emergency. Teach your kitten to become comfortable with the carrier. Start by leaving the carrier out with the door open. A hard plastic kennel-style carrier typically works

Considering feeding a vegetarian diet to your dog or wanting the choice of providing them with their version of meatless Monday dinner plans? Vegetarianism has become increasingly popular in the human food world in the past 20 years, while historically, pet parents have been cautious to entertain a vegetarian option for their dog. But today, carefully balanced and scientifically proven plant-based options are becoming more readily available, making the importance of understanding what they are all about so key for pet parents. Vegetarian dog foods are crafted to contain no meat protein ingredients. Instead, they are designed with an abundance of plant-based ingredients such as legumes or potatoes and potentially other animal-based products, such as protein-rich eggs. While dogs, in general, can be classified as an omnivore (meaning they can do well living meat-free) it is especially important to ensure that when it comes to vegetarian recipes that they are carefully balanced by animal nutritionists and veterinarians to deliver the correct proportions of nutrients. To deliver the protein-rich nutrition that a dog needs, in addition to the potential inclusion of whole eggs, plant-based dog foods will often use legumes or potatoes as the main protein source which contain rich sources of protein as well as dietary fiber for digestive health and an abundance of vitamins and minerals for wellbeing. PROS: With ample research and careful preparation of meals, it is possible to get dogs all the nutrients they need without

Cats are fastidious groomers. They typically spend 30-50 percent of their day engaged in self-grooming. There are several reasons for a normal amount of grooming, such as: A way to cool down Removal of dead hair External parasite removal To remove scent traces of prey/food To create a familiar, identifying scent To clean debris from coat/general coat maintenance Displacement behavior Grooming becomes a problem when the cat spends an excessive amount of time at it, resulting in bald patches. Skin sores can also result from the constant licking from the cat’s rough tongue. Because cats groom so much, cat parents may not realize it has become excessive until they notice hair loss or see an increased number of hair balls. The cause may be medical or behavioral. Psychogenic alopecia is the term used for excessive behavioral grooming. This type of grooming is a stress coping mechanism for cats. A normal amount of licking as a temporary displacement activity to self-calm is common. When it becomes ongoing to relieve unrelenting stress, it’s an obsessive/compulsive behavior. Grooming causes an endorphin release that creates a feeling of calm so the behavior is then constantly repeated. It’s essential to first rule out underlying medical causes before assuming the problem is behavioral. A visit to the veterinarian is the first step in addressing a cat’s over-grooming behavior. Underlying health conditions could trigger a cat to over-groom. If the skin is itchy, the cat may not

We all love seeing our dogs happy and healthy and for most pet parents, giving their dog a chew treat is a guaranteed way to see that joy. What you may not know however, is when we give our dog’s that special treat to keep them occupied, it’s not only designed to keep them busy and chewing for a long period of time, but it also delivers an added health benefit of providing our dogs with calming and mental health benefits. Dogs are part of our family and when it comes to their wellbeing, we know they are at their happiest when they can engage in their innate species-specific behaviors, such as playing, chasing, smelling, chewing, and scavenging. These daily activities are often intertwined with the moments you share together such as that walk after work, the game of chase in the yard, or even the treat puzzle mat you give them on the weekends. By encouraging your dog to engage in these behaviors on a regular basis you will not only be assured more tail wags, but this also allows them to be physically, emotionally, and mentally satisfied which are all key to promoting their lifetime of wellbeing. It goes without saying that chewing a long-lasting treat is an exciting and delicious activity for our dogs. Their focus on working the different angles with every bite keeps their minds busy and their taste buds happy. But what pet parents may not

Ear cleaning is part of keeping your dog groomed and healthy from nose to tail. Dogs rely on their ears for hearing, balance, expression, and more. Cleaning your dog’s ears helps support their health and happiness and prevents pain and other problems. Like humans, deaf dogs can live perfectly happy and healthy lives with the right care and support system. However, it’s best not to let your hearing dog go deaf due to entirely preventable causes, like wax buildup or untreated ear infections. These causes can turn hearing loss into a confusing, frightening, or even painful process. Keeping your dog’s ears clean and healthy is vital whether they have hearing or not. Dog ears can be highly sensitive, and they are important for more than just hearing. Learning how to clean dog ears will help your beloved pet thrive happily. You may see different guidelines regarding how often to clean your dog’s ears. Some resources recommend cleaning them once a month, twice a month, or at some other intervals. In reality, the best frequency of ear cleanings depends on your dog’s specific needs. Some dogs are more prone to ear infections and debris buildup than others, such as dogs with hanging or floppy ears, like Cocker Spaniels, Basset Hounds, and Beagles. However, all dog breeds can develop ear problems. Here’s a general guideline to help you determine how often your dog needs an ear cleaning: Ask Your Vet – Pet

Feeding a wholesome, nutritious, tasty diet to your dog is a huge priority for a loving pet parent. Whether you’re new to having a dog or have been a dog parent for a while, you may have some questions about improving your dog’s diet. Keep reading to learn about our 5 tips to achieve the best dog diet for your canine buddy! There are plenty of reasons to think about your dog’s diet, even if your dog has been part of the family for some time. Here are a few examples: Recently adopted a new member of the family Thinking about switching your dog’s food Feeding a picky eater Learned about a new dog diet Supporting your dog through life events or changes, like growing older or losing teeth Noticed some digestive issues, appetite changes, or other issues Need to help your dog lose weight or eat better Whether any of these reasons apply to you, or you just want to make sure you’re feeding your dog right, use our five tips below to help improve your dog’s diet! Before you buy dog food, make sure to check the nutrition label to learn about what you’re feeding your dog. Nutrition labels list ingredients in the order of largest to smallest amount used. Do you recognize the ingredients, especially the first five? Is protein listed first? Adult dogs need a complete and balanced diet containing these nutrients: Protein Vitamins and minerals

April 30th is National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day and what better to celebrate than by adopting a shelter animal!  This is also a great opportunity to educate yourself about why shelter pets are the best, or to share the wealth of knowledge about what makes adopting a shelter pet great! While statistics are as much the mind’s best friend as dogs are man’s best friend, the truth is adopting a shelter pet is a matter of heart. By adopting a shelter pet, you not only save a life, but you also make a friend for life! Shelter pets are animals that enter shelters for various reasons. These could be abandonment, lack of a home, abuse, or a person’s inability to provide care. Of the several million animals that enter shelters across the US every year, the majority are loving, loyal, and hopeful that you will take them home and will love them too. There are multiple breeds and ages among shelter pets; puppies and kittens as well as purebreds and mix breeds are proliferate in shelters. Sadly, of those pets, 2.6 million (1.2 million dogs and 1.4 million cats) are euthanized. While one person cannot save them all, many people working together and choosing to adopt shelter pets can impact those grim statistics. For example, in addition to shelter pets being loving, loyal, and companionable: Many shelter pets are already house trained. They have been socialized and can safely interact with adult

Trimming your cat’s nails probably sounds about as appealing as giving your cat a bath and yet…such is a necessary component of being a cat parent. Cats need help getting their nails trimmed even if they have a scratching post. Keeping your cat’s claws trimmed is actually important not just for your cat’s health (overly-long cat nails can curve in and grow into your cat’s paws) but also for your furniture—cats will scratch whatever they can when their nails give them issues. If you’re curious to know how often to trim your cat’s nails and how to actually do it, read on. While your furniture and curtains being the target of your cat’s scratching is a definite concern, there are bigger reasons for trimming your cat’s nails at regular intervals. One reason is to dull the sharp points your cat’s nails hone into. This makes it harder for your cats to actually cause damage to the furnishings or your skin when and if they do scratch. This also makes it less painful when your cat lovingly kneads you before settling down for a nap. Other reasons are that broken nails can be very painful for kitties. Sharp nails more easily get caught in things like carpet, furniture, or scratching posts and thus break. These jagged broken tips are no fun! Equally painful and as noted before is when a cat’s nails grow into their paw pads. This usually only happens

Kittens are precious little bundles of joy to welcome into your home, but they’re also helpless. When they are born, they’re extremely reliant on others for care and nourishment. Kittens especially need the protective antibodies they get from their mother’s milk. These antibodies provide immunity that protects them for the first few weeks of their life; however, after that, at certain intervals, they need additional support in the form of vaccines. Learning about kitten vaccines and kitten health will help you set your kitten up for a long and healthy life. Kitten vaccination can be complicated, which is why veterinarians are so valuable. The reason kitten vaccines are complicated is because the immunity kittens get from their mother’s milk (called “passive immunity”) wears off at different intervals. Once the passive immunity wears off, kittens need to produce their own “active immunity”. Thus, kitten vaccines, which encourage active immunity, are most effective if they’re given as the maternal antibodies wear off but before the kitten is exposed to any infectious diseases. This gap is called an “immunity window”. Consequently, this immunity window and potential gap that occurs when passive immunity antibodies wear off is why kittens should be kept indoors before you let them outside (if they are going to spend time outdoors at all). While staying indoors doesn’t eliminate the risk to your kitten’s health, being indoors does limit your kitten’s exposure to potential infections. Thus, kittens receive a series

You probably know that eating a plant-based diet has many health benefits for humans. But did you know your dog can also thrive eating plant-based food? A plant-based diet is one that focuses primarily on plants. Beyond fruits and vegetables, plant-based diets include an abundance of whole grains, beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, and oils. Those following a plant-based diet, as opposed to a vegan diet, do not completely exclude animal products. Plant-based diets look a little different for everybody: they can include meat, dairy, eggs, and other animal foods on occasion. What makes a diet “plant-based” is the emphasis on including a variety of plant foods with most meals and snacks. We know that following a plant-based diet can have health benefits for humans, and similar benefits can be seen in dogs fed nutritionally balanced plant-based diets. In addition to weight management, a plant-based diet can help reduce the risk of certain diseases, including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, certain cancers, and diabetes. This is due to many factors! Plant-based foods are inherently low in saturated fat. Current dietary recommendations say to limit saturated fat to less than 10% of total dietary intake each day for humans, because it can increase the risk of developing heart disease. By having our diet come from mostly plants as humans, we are naturally decreasing saturated fat intake. And while there is no dietary recommendation for dogs to avoid saturated fat, too much fat in the

Vaccines are a regular part of feline healthcare that need to be attended to in order for your cat to stay well; however, there are many different kinds of cat vaccines. Some are core and are considered vital while others are non-core and are—while important—not always necessary. Thus, many cat owners have the question: what vaccines do cats need? Here we cover the different vaccines cats need, what the vaccines do, and when cats need them according to the American Association of Feline Practitioners. FVRCP is three core vaccines rolled into one injection administered when your cat is a kitten to boost active immunity. These vaccines help protect your kitten against potentially fatal diseases and infections and should be boosted throughout your cat’s life. Broken down, FVRCP vaccine covers the following: FPV vaccine is administered to treat feline panleukopenia, which is a highly-infectious disease that is fatal to kittens if contracted. The virus destroys white blood cells. Symptoms of this virus are low energy, poor appetite, and later vomiting and diarrhea. FCV vaccine covers feline calcivirus. Feline calcivirus pertains to a plethora of viral strains that cause upper respiratory infection. It’s also connected with gingivitis and stomatitis, which is a painful gum inflammation. Hair loss, skin crusting, hepatitis, and death are also associated with this virus. FHV-1 vaccine is for the prevention of feline herpesvirus also known as rhinotracheitis and relates to severe respiratory infection. Symptoms of this virus are