Live Well
The official Blog of Wellness Natural Pet Food

As you are getting ready to return to the office, it’s helpful to consider comfort, action and distraction toys, puzzles and games to keep dogs engaged until they hear the key in the door announcing you’re home again. To stock the toy box with both mentally and physically stimulating fun stuff, here’s what you need to know before you go shopping. Comfort toys are typically soft, plush cuddly toys. They come in all shapes and sizes and are a doggie essential as they provide a level of security and comfort for our pups. Toy size doesn’t matter in relation to your pooch; many little dogs love big fluffy cuddly things for company. Place your dog’s comfort toy in a bed or another place where they like to curl up for a snooze. Because comfort toys usually have squeakers and crinkly materials included in the design, many pooches instead treat them as prey toys and they will enjoy carrying them around, shaking and attempting to subdue them. Even the toughest comfort toy won’t last forever. And if you don’t like cleaning up mounds of stuffing, consider “flatties” plush comfort toys which are stuffing-free. These toys are usually made from very durable non-toxic rubber materials that dogs can hold between their paws or play with as they are designed to roll or wobble. Stuff them with treats or a dollop of peanut butter, and be rest-assured your dog will be busy for

Small dog owners unite! These little rascals are a big deal because not only are they undeniably adorable, they’re also easier to own. Small dogs are favored by many because they tend to be easier to bathe, walk, feed, and care for than their larger (though equally lovable) counterparts. Among the small dog breeds, a few stand out. These are (in no particular order) the top 10 most easy-going, popular small dog breeds (and why people love them so much). Chihuahuas are fun, playful, and loyal little dogs. They are energetic and very affectionate. In spite of this, Chihuahuas don’t need a ton of exercise. What’s more, they also travel well and have a long lifespan, which means they are companions you can truly bond with. Oh, they are also adorable (for proof of this, check out Tuna Melts My Heart on Instagram). Small and fluffy, Maltese dogs consistently top “most popular” small dog breed lists. They’re known for being smart and easy to train (such as the registered therapy Maltese pups that are the stars of the Coco the Maltese Instagram account). Maltese dogs are also friendly with strangers, children, and other animals (they’re very peaceful). Further, they don’t shed much, which makes them a great choice for those who suffer with allergies. Another popular and easygoing small dog breed is the Dachshund. They are very good natured and get along well with others as evidenced by two of

You may only think about your dog or cat’s digestive system when something is wrong. Maybe they’re vomiting or have a sensitivity to a certain food. But understanding what makes your pet’s digestive system unique will help you better anticipate their health needs. Plus, some of these facts make for great conversation starters! A dog’s digestive tract is about 6 times his body length and a meal typically takes 7-10 hours to pass through his body. That’s why it’s important to provide high quality nutrition that helps promote a healthy digestive tract. Cats love to groom and as they lick their coat, big wads of hair get swallowed and form hairballs. Hairballs can obstruct the flow of food and in extreme cases may require surgical removal, or if you’re lucky, just some puke all over your nice new rug. A dog’s jaw can only move up and down unlike a human jaw that can move up and down, side-to-side and in a rounded motion. Cat and dog teeth are designed to rip, shred and crush dense objects consistent with their wolf and wild cat-like ancestors. Your dog uses his front teeth to grab food and then pulls his food to the back of the mouth where molars grind up the food into smaller chunks. Some large, deep-chested dogs like Great Danes can suffer a potential fatal upset called bloat, because they cannot burp. Often seen when these dogs eat too quickly, their

Whole pieces of freeze-dried meat are one of the products made daily in our Farm Fresh Kitchens.We’re so proud to share that our Minnesota-based Farm Fresh Kitchens manufacturing facility has earned the grade “A” certification by the British Retail Consortium’s (BRC) Global Standard for Food Safety. The certification is a testament to our hardworking team, commitment to quality and strategic facility investments. The BRC’s globally recognized standards set the benchmark for manufacturing practices and assure that our products and recipes are safe, legal and of high quality. As a rigorous third-party accreditation, companies must execute exceptional, ethical and safe practices to earn a high BRC certification. “Accountability is central to all that we do as a team of pet parents who are driven to craft only the best food for our pets, so they can live longer, healthier and happier lives. Our high marks from the BRC shows this commitment, and we’re incredibly proud of our Farm Fresh Kitchens team for creating an environment where quality and food safety are the top priorities,” says Colm Geraghty, global vice president of Operations at WellPet. “We set the bar high, and our team’s careful oversight and unwavering devotion to quality is a common thread across all that we do.” The A grade accreditation enables pet parents, customers and partners to place the utmost trust and confidence in our pet food and treats. According to the BRC, the Global Standard for Food Safety focuses

When it comes to keeping a cat healthy and happy, focusing on their digestive health is fundamental to their wellbeing. The digestive system not only helps digest and absorb nutrients essential to their daily health, but it is also home to trillions of microorganisms, known as “beneficial” bacteria, or the microbiome. With a balanced microbiome the digestive system can help support a cat’s immune system, optimize their digestion, promote a lustrous skin and coat and support their health for a lifetime of wellbeing. Ensuring the optimal health of your cat’s digestive system is not only beneficial to your cat’s wellbeing; it is also an attribute from a recent survey showing 78% of pet parents want that from the nutrition they feed their cat. So how should cat parents support the digestive health of their cat? What attributes of their cat’s health do they need to particularly consider? The major difference with our felines is that cats, unlike dogs, are classified as true obligate carnivores. Cats are unique in more ways than one and that is especially true when it comes to their nutritional requirements and digestive health. The major difference with our felines is that cats, unlike dogs, are classified as true obligate carnivores. This means cats require certain nutrients which are only found in animal tissue, such as the amino acid taurine and fatty acid arachidonic acid. To meet these specific nutritional needs your cats must consume a diet rich in meat

Digestive health is a key factor that all cat parents should consider when it comes to promoting their cat’s wellbeing. By digesting and absorbing the goodness from their food, your cat can take in all the nutrients needed to stay in top condition. And, with an optimal balance of their gut bacteria or microbiome, your cat can obtain additional health benefits that include everything from optimal digestibility to immune health and skin & coat to body condition. Your cat’s digestive health affects almost every aspect of their health and happiness. It’s the secret to helping every cat achieve a lifetime of wellbeing! Your cat may love their food but, in some cases, her food may simply not always agree with her. Common signs that may suggest your cat is not digesting their food properly include loose stools, diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, less energy, increased numbers of hairballs, increased itching or other skin problems including a dull coat. If your cat begins suffering from digestive issues, your first step is to always talk with your veterinarian.  They can give your cat a full health check to ensure there are no underlying health problems that first need to be addressed. Once the vet has given your cat the “all clear,” it may be time to switch her to a premium brand that is focused on delivering both high quality nutrition as well as digestive health benefits. But where do you start? Look at the

Dental disease is the number one health issue affecting dogs, making it something that all pet parents should be actively thinking about and supporting with daily at home dental care.  But what actually is dental disease and what is the difference between dog plaque vs tartar? Plaque:Plaque is a soft substance that consists of food, saliva and bacteria mixed together. It coats your dog’s teeth like a film, and will build up quickly unless it is removed. Plaque can be scraped away with a simple toothbrush, dental chew or some chemicals can kill the bacteria in plaque. Tartar (calculus):Tartar is plaque that has hardened. This process can take as little as 48 hours. Tartar is much more difficult to remove and can be seen as a yellow or brown staining on teeth, especially on their molars and premolar teeth (the hard to reach ones at their back of their mouth!). The first sign of dental disease is the gradual build-up of plaque, a bacterial film that sticks to the surface of your dog’s teeth. When this plaque continues to build up it will become a harder substance, tartar, which can accumulate to the surface (that you can see of your dog’s teeth), and it can extend under the gum line where you cannot see. Once attached, it will attract white blood cells, which can then appear as inflammation or a red and swollen appearance to the gum line. It is this

Every year people commit to healthier diets, but what about healthier pet diets? Animals need healthy eating habits for longevity and wellness just as much as humans do. Of course, the habits and diet plans for pets vary from human diets. Even minor disruption or change to your pet’s healthy eating plan can have some very unhealthy consequences. So, use these 10 reminders for your pet’s healthy diet to make sure that your pet is on track to have both a happy and healthy life. One of the first things to check to ensure you pet’s eating healthily is to check the ingredients in their pet food(s) and treats. The primary ingredient in your cat or dog’s food should be a meat. It should be listed first. The more natural ingredients in your pet’s food, the better the food is for them. Portion control plays a huge role in your pet’s overall health. Overeating or undereating can damage your pet’s physical and mental stamina as well as lead to diseases and other health problems is mismanaged in the long run. While underfeeding is rarely a problem, over-feeding is very common. Pet food bags sometimes have recommended portions for serving, but even if yours doesn’t, you can go by weight. Pet MD recommends the following for cats and for dogs: Cats 5lbs and under should eat 1/4 to 1/3 cups of food per day. 10lbs and just over or under should eat 3/8

Dog dental extraction or tooth removal is one of the most common veterinary surgeries. There are several reasons dogs may need to have a tooth extracted by a veterinary surgeon. Thankfully, regardless of circumstances that require dental extractions, dogs typically feel better and can eat normally after the procedure. Follow-up care and good oral hygiene can help prevent your dog from needing another extraction. Pet parents may not realize that their dog’s oral health impacts their overall wellness and comfort. This is why when your dog has tooth and gum issues, it is important to get them resolved immediately. The most common dog dental problem is periodontal disease, or severe gum disease. Gum disease mostly occurs in older dogs and in dogs with poor oral health. Other reasons for dog dental extractions include: Tooth Fracture Tooth Abscess Impacted or crowded teeth Gingivostomatitis – a severe inflammatory condition Malocclusion Most dog dental problems start within the gums; however, there are some outward signs that your dog has a dental health problem. These are: Pawing at or rubbing the face Drooling Not eating or drinking Facial swelling Dropping food Difficulty chewing Bad Breath Any of these signs merit a trip to the vet for evaluation. During your consultation, your vet will likely take an x-ray of your dog’s mouth and jaws to assess the issue and to know where the injured tooth is. Your dog’s extraction will be scheduled with a dental

Pet parents all agree that if given a chance, our beloved dogs will eat anything and everything they come across, making it inevitable that there are bound to be bouts of diarrhea or even an episode of vomiting to deal with at some point in their life. You may be wondering, “But why is my dog vomiting?” While occasional vomiting may not be a cause for concern, frequent or severe vomiting can be a sign of a much more serious condition and require immediate veterinary attention. Understanding why your dog may be vomiting, what other signs you should look out for and what you can do to help is key to supporting your dog’s health. You probably have a good idea, but vomiting is an active, forceful ejection of the stomach and upper intestinal contents that may occur several hours after your dog has eaten. Dogs evolved anatomically to be able to vomit on cue to empty their stomachs of any unwanted food items which they may have eaten as a dietary indiscretion. It’s a common condition that many dogs experience. As the food has undergone partial digestion, its contents can appear as a combination of yellow bile, liquid or foam and food chunks as well as have a sour smell to it. As you seek to determine what upset your dog it is also important to understand the difference between regurgitation and vomiting. These two things may seem identical,

Dogs are known to eat anything and everything if given the chance. For them, if it looks or smells even remotely edible, chances are it’s half swallowed before you can yell, “drop it!” It turns out that an upset stomach is one of the top unexpected reasons why dogs need to visit the veterinarian. While no pet parent wants to see their dog suffering from diarrhea, vomiting, constipation or any other type of digestive issue, knowing the signs and symptoms of upset stomach in dogs is key to identifying what is bothering your dog and how to help them. Digestive (gastrointestinal) upsets are conditions that impair the ability of the stomach and intestines to digest and absorb all the great nutrients included in your dog’s food. With healthy digestion, your dog can not only optimize their nutrient absorption to keep them in great condition, but the digestive system also helps support their immune health, promote healthy skin and coat and boost their vitality, making it key to fueling a lifetime of wellbeing. Vomiting Diarrhea Constipation Lethargy Weight loss. If you think your dog is in distress or if their condition is not improving, we recommend you speak with your local veterinarian. Your veterinarian can perform an exam, diagnostics and recommend treatments specific to your dog to get them back to health. With so many potential causes, diagnosing digestive problems in dogs can often be a difficult challenge even for your

If you follow any wellbeing or health news, you may be familiar with words like “probiotics” or “kombucha.” You might even recognize hard-to-pronounce bacterial names like “bifidobacterial” or “lactobacillus” as being a key feature in your yogurt. Gut-health related messages and benefits are everywhere, both in popular media and in science. For our pets, gut health is a top priority when it comes to promoting their health and wellbeing; however, understanding the real function and importance of the bacteria that populate our dog’s and cat’s digestive system is no easy task. Here we provide a back-to-basics introduction on the gut microbiome, and why it is important to consider these microorganisms when it comes to choosing the right food for your pet’s health. The gut microbiome is made up of trillions of microorganisms and their genetic material that live inside a dog or cat’s intestinal tract. Comprising mainly of bacteria, the microbiome is involved in functions critical to a pet’s health and wellbeing, which includes digesting the food your pet eats and helping absorbing and synthesizing nutrients. The benefits of these gut bugs are further involved in many other important processes that extend beyond your pet’s gut. This includes: Metabolism Body weight Immune regulation Some brain functions and mood There are many factors that influence the type and the amount of bacteria a pet hosts and, although most pets have similarities, each and every pet will have a unique bacterial footprint.