Live Well
The official Blog of Wellness Natural Pet Food

Fish oil for dogs is important for several reasons which we’ll cover in this article. Fish oil is a nutrient-rich natural fat that is often described as a functional ingredient or a superfood because of the important omega-3 fatty acid health benefits that it offers. Extracted as an oil from the tissues of oily fish such as herring, tuna, anchovies, salmon and mackerel, this ingredient is also rich in two important omega-3 fatty acids called eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Fats in general are known as lipids and can be found in both animal and plant-based ingredients. Fats have multiple functions in the body that contribute to your dog’s overall health: Storing energy Providing structural support for membranes Support function of skin and coat health Support function of brain and nerve development Help reduce susceptibility to inflammation Omega-3 fatty acids: Fish oil is rich in Omega fatty acids. Ensuring your dog’s diet has nutrient-rich omega fatty acids ingredients like fish oil has been shown to balance the amount of omega-6 fatty acids and improve the appearance and feel of skin and coat in dogs. DHA and EPA present in omega-3 fatty acids such as fish oils are also important for young puppies and kittens with studies showing dietary inclusion can support brain, nerve, and eye development to give them the best start in life. Omega 6 fatty acids: Found in animal tissues such as chicken fat or vegetable

Your dog is constipated. Now what? Here we’ll cover constipation in dogs, and share tips on what you can give a dog that is constipated in order to help relieve their discomfort. Constipation is something no pet parent wants to see their dog suffering with. Presenting as a difficulty to pass a stool, the infrequent passage of stools or a total absence of any stool, constipation is the result of feces being retained in the last section of the intestinal tract for one reason or another. While in many cases some simple adjustments can help alleviate a pet’s discomfort and ensure the return of healthy digestion, in some cases, constipation can progress to obstruction where the feces become excessively hard and impacted within the intestinal tract which. Obstruction is a serious condition and can lead to permanent damage of the intestinal tract if left untreated. Constipation can occur with any condition that impairs the movement of feces through the colon. When feces are retained within the colon for an extended period, water continues to be absorbed, resulting in progressively harder and drier feces. Constipation can occur secondary to an obstruction (such as an enlarged prostate, a pelvic fracture or ingested foreign body), painful defecation (from anal wounds or orthopedic upset such as hip problems), environmental factors (such as confinement/boarding or inactivity), medications, nerve dysfunction, fluid and electrolyte abnormalities, or inadequate water intake. Because of the potential for these underlying conditions,

If you’re thinking about making an appointment to take your pup for a dog dental cleaning, you should know there are some similarities—and important differences—to when you go for a dental cleaning. Most importantly, it’s common for a dog to go under anesthesia for a routine dental cleaning to remove tartar and address their dental health. This is done for your dog’s benefit so they aren’t as stressed out during the dog dental cleaning. Think about how those noisy, scary-looking tools coming at your mouth could cause some anxiety. Undergoing this type of cleaning also makes it easier for the veterinary dentist to do his or her job to the best of their ability. So, you’re getting your money’s worth out of the appointment. Here are important factors to think about before you book your dog’s dental cleaning: Talk to the vet doing the dental cleaning about their protocol, how the anesthesia is administered, and the drugs being used. Let the vet know about any pre-existing conditions and medications your pet is on. It might be helpful to have your pet’s bloodwork information before the appointment so everyone is aware of any potential red flags with his or her health. Having more information about your dog’s medical history can help the vet be better informed about what to expect and precautions to take before the procedure.Oftentimes a vet tech will monitor your dog’s vitals throughout the procedure and adjust the anesthesia as necessary. Your

In case you didn’t already know, dog biscuits are hard, crunchy treats for dogs that come in a variety of flavors. They serve as dietary supplements for dogs and serve the same function to dogs as snacks do to humans. Just as with human snacks, not all are created equally. It’s important for dog parents to know what the best ingredients are for dog biscuits for your dog’s pleasure and overall health, how best to store them for freshness, and what some of the most popular flavors are. Since we’ve established what they are and what function they serve to your dog, the question then becomes what makes a great dog biscuit? Just like with your snacks, your dog wants a biscuit that is a treat, a reward…super delicious! But like you, your dog needs a biscuit that’s not chock full of artificial ingredients or unhealthy additives that will cause weight gain or negatively impact his overall health. Thus, great dog biscuits are the healthiest that you can find that are also full of delicious flavor (more on that in a minute). According to the American Kennel Club, a leading authority on all things canine, the healthiest are those made with the same natural ingredients as your regular dog food recipes. Look for dog biscuit ingredient lists that are free of: Artificial sweeteners (such as xylitol) Rendered fats Corn or wheat gluten Propylene glycol (PG) BHA BHT Ethoxyquin Food dyes Meat and grain

As your dog ages, its nutritional needs may change. Senior dog food is one of the best options for ensuring that your older dog is being provided with a diet that fits its current needs. From weight management to joint health, senior dog food is formulated to help pet parents contribute to their dog’s overall well-being. However, when choosing a new diet for your senior dog, it can be hard to know where to begin. That’s why we are here to help with your guide to choosing the best dog food for senior dogs. We’ll look at the best dry dog food for senior dogs and the best wet dog food for senior dogs. But first, let’s talk about the special nutritional needs of our older pups. Just like us humans, as your dog ages, its body will begin to change. With each passing year, you will likely see common and recognizable signs of aging. You might first notice that your dog tires more easily. It might not have the same energy it once did and may even begin to show signs of stiffness in the mornings. Perhaps its adorable muzzle is beginning to sport a few more grey hairs than when it was young. While we often notice these visible signs of aging first, many pet parents don’t realize that before these visible signs appear, changes have started to occur on the inside of your dog. Older dogs may

What’s not to love about senior dogs? Loyal and loving, our older dogs are not just devoted companions, but they have truly become part of your family and a much-loved family member at that. So, when it comes to ensuring the health and wellbeing of your older dog, providing them age-specific nutrition, attentive care, and regular vet visits are all important elements to keeping your dog young at heart and allowing them to fulfill a lifetime of wellbeing. Did you know that most dogs become seniors around age 7 years? While each dog will start to move into the senior phase of their life at slightly different times, the age of seven is a time that sees many dogs hit their senior stride. Large and giant breed dogs can move into this phase a little earlier, while smaller breeds will shift to the senior category a bit later in life. Breed Size Senior From Toy Breed 9 years Small Breed 7 years Medium Breed 7 years Large Breed 6 years Giant Breed 5 years As your dog ages, just like us, their body starts to change, and they may show some common and recognizable signs of aging. You may have noticed for instance that your senior dog is not as energetic as they used to be during walks or play time, they may start to show some stiffness in the morning or even have a few more grey hairs appearing

Teeth are one of the first things we notice when talking to others and meeting new people. They allow us to show affections through a smile, and more importantly, break down solid foods for nourishment. What does this have to do with dogs? Well, did you know that 80% of dogs are affected by various dental diseases and that senior dogs, over 12 years of age, are more likely to have a dental problem than any other age group?  While we care deeply for our pets with snuggles, food, and play, most owners overlook dental health as a priority for wellbeing. The majority of dog owners don’t take their dogs for regular dental checkups and that number drops when it comes to daily dental routines in the home. Learn about the importance of proper dog dental care and what to look for to ensure healthy and happy gums and teeth. Taking care of our pets’ wellbeing needs is top priority, but an often overlooked aspects of pet health and wellbeing stems from dental care. While dental issues can cause pain and infections within the mouth, dental issues can also cause eating issues and weight loss that can lead to larger health problems, such as infections, within the rest of the body. Dental issues can go so far as to cause permanent jaw pain and even heart disease if left untreated. That’s why it’s vital to incorporate a dental routine in

5 Common Cat Sleeping Positions and What They MeanWhat could be cuter than a sleeping cat? Moments earlier, the cat may have been running around, knocking things over or walking across your laptop keyboard as you tried to work. While snoozing though, that same cat looks angelic. Cats always seem to find a comfortable spot to sleep, even if their position looks very uncomfortable. You’ve likely seen your cat in various positions when sleeping. Have you ever wondered what your cat’s different sleeping positions might mean? It’s important to note that when trying to interpret sleeping positions or any feline body language, you should consider the cat’s typical personality and the current environment. Some cats have favorite positions and others choose based on their immediate circumstances. Let’s take a closer look at five common sleeping positions. Curled up Cat Ball This is one of the most common sleeping positions, where the cat curls into a ball and wraps the tail closely to the body. One benefit of this position is that it helps the cat conserve heat. You may notice your indoor cat sleeping in this position more in colder months. Being curled up is also a protective posture. This position provides ultimate protection to the vulnerable vital organs and also allows the cat to be small and hopefully unnoticed. In an outdoor environment, a sleeping cat is at risk of attack by larger predators so it’s beneficial to be

When it comes to love, affection, and loyalty, let’s be honest…dogs are the real MVP, and since Valentine’s Day is the holiday devoted to showing the ones you love most with tokens of your affection, we thought we’d share some of the best gifts to get your dog for Valentine’s Day. The saying goes that the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach, which makes sense, right? Feeding a person delicious food and treats is akin to feeding them with love. The same is true for your dog. Your dog loves treats just as much as you do, so why not get your dog Valentine’s Day treats? Of course, not just any old dog treat will do. They need to be special. The best Valentine’s Day treats for dogs are hands-down Old Mother Hubbard Bits of Love. These dog treats are adorably-shaped like little hearts and come in the iconic and dog-approved P-Nuttier flavor. Your dog’s Valentine’s Day treats will taste like peanut butter and molasses. Yum! They’ll also be healthy as they’re made with natural ingredients like real oats, eggs, carrots, and apples. Delicious and guilt-free…your dog’s Valentine’s Day treat doesn’t get any more delicious than that. Happy eater, happy treater! You can make the gift of Bits of Love dog treats even better by gifting your dog with a puzzle toy like the Brick Puzzle Game Dog Toy. Puzzle toys stimulate your dog’s cognitive functioning, which

Training is a huge part of your dog’s development, and it should come with some form of reinforcement. Animal organizations worldwide say that positive reinforcement, or the addition of something good or enticing to increase good behavior, is a great way to teach commands and reinforce desirable behavior. Can you guess what the most popular form of positive reinforcement is? Treats! Since most dogs are food motivated, treats are an easy way to influence your dog to complete commands and perform good behavior. However, pet parents can make some mistakes that can reduce their effectiveness, turning them into an undesirable or not-so-good form of reinforcement that could hinder your dog’s learning abilities. So, I know you must be asking, what are some mistakes I may be making when it comes to rewarding my dog with treats? Read on to find out. Treats should be an exciting reward that your pups are getting for completing a task they’re trying to learn. Therefore, you should be using nice, high-quality treats to deliver this reward. Those sad, bland little biscuit treats aren’t going to cut it! Your pup is guaranteed to get bored of their bland taste, leading to them failing to provide the reinforcement needed. However, natural treats made from vegetables and meat or ingredients such as cheese, fresh liver, bacon, etc., work perfectly as high-quality treats for training. Wellness Soft Puppy Bites, or Wellness WellBites, with flavors such as Chicken & Venison, can

With his iconic dinner bell experiment, Pavlov and his dogs taught us that dogs respond well to positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement teaches dogs to continue and to repeat behaviors that are rewarded; it teaches them that those behaviors are good. Positive reinforcement is the method experts encourage when training your dog. We wanted to share how to reward your dog for good behavior, so you can more easily train them. Before we delve into what to reward your dog with, it’s worth noting that when, how, and where you reward your dog is essential. For example, say your dog obeyed your command to sit and stay during a walk where other dogs were present. You want to reward your dog right away. Give them a treat (the reward) as soon as the good behavior transpires, so they make a clear association between the behavior and the reward. If you waited to get home from your walk, your dog wouldn’t know if you were rewarding him for a successful walk or just because. The moment to reward that good dog behavior would be lost. Likewise, you want to reward your dog in the area where the event occurred, such as at the spot where your dog sat and stayed. The reward teaches your dog that “you did well right here in this spot / moment.” Note, though, just as you can shape good behaviors with rewards, you can shape bad behaviors.

Do you love reading articles about your favorite dog breeds online? They can be chock-full of fun facts about their personalities, behaviors, physical traits, and yes—their health. This includes susceptibility to dog dental disease. While you might be perusing the internet to learn more about a dog breed before taking them home as a pet or, you want to learn about your dog’s breed and how you can care for them, having an understanding of their health needs and possible issues is important as a responsible pet owner. Every dog breed needs its owner to help care for its teeth, but some dog breeds are more prone to dog dental disease than others. In fact, smaller dog breeds in particular are at a higher risk of canine periodontal disease. Here, we’ll share the dog breeds that tend to need more TLC when it comes to their dental health. Keep these types of dogs in mind when it comes to minding your dog’s teeth or when buying or adopting a dog. It’s said that the smaller the dog, the higher their risk of periodontal disease. Those little dogs might be more likely to have stinky breath, too, due to the dental disease. Chihuahuas in particular have small mouths and 42 teeth that are fighting for space in there. These gentle sprinters are more likely than some other dogs to have problems with their teeth due to the shape of their mouths. When a dog’s