Live Well
The official Blog of Wellness Natural Pet Food

At Wellness, we look forward to our Annual Global Day of Service, a day where each employee volunteers their time to give back to the community. In 2020, we made sure this day was no different. Wellness is a proud sponsor of Best Friends Animal Society’s Strut Your Mutt Day. Best Friends Animal Society is teaming up with local rescue groups, shelters and animal welfare organizations for a virtual community walk and fundraiser that benefits homeless dogs and cats across the country. Join us on Saturday, October 24th to virtually Strut Your Mutt via Best Friends Social Media channels. You can also join along for fun, engaging opportunities to connect and raise funds throughout the season and build a virtual no-kill community. Check out the virtual events leading up to October 24th such as Cat/Kitten Yoga on October 10th and Piggy Paradise on October 20th. There’s never been a better time to help pets waiting for that lifesaving second chance. Wellness is also proud to support the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Wellness selected the NAACP during a charitable drive in June and will continue to support the NAACP during our Global Day of Service – virtually. JustMove is a virtual 5k app that allows race participants to run or walk at their own pace. The best part is you and your four-legged best friend can participate in your neighborhood, over a hike, or along the

Every dog and cat is a little different, so optimal feeding amounts may vary by age, size, activity level, breed and environment. Please make sure to find out which Wellness Pet Food your new family member is being fed, as well as the amount and frequency [times/day] before checking out of the Best Friends site. Please always use feeding guidelines as an initial recommendation and adjust as needed. Always feed at room temperature, try to never leave wet food out for longer than 30-45 minutes. Also, always provide access to clean, fresh water. To maintain freshness please refrigerate any unused wet food [3-4 days max.] in an air-tight container and store dry products at room temperature inside the original bag or inside an air-tight container that has limited exposure to direct sunlight. Feeding Guidelines can be found on every dry product on either the back label or bottom of the bag [depending on bag size] and on every can label for wet products. Combination feeding [feeding dry and wet food together] varies by species and product type. Please refer to product packaging or refer to each Wellness product page, specifically the tab entitled ‘Feeding Guidelines.’ The best way to transition onto a new food is to gradually introduce the food by mixing it with the old diet. This is particularly important when the new food is much tastier than the old, as is the case with Wellness. Mixing the food

Whether this is your first cat family member, or you have a long legacy of felines, cat owners know that hairballs are a common issue. While some cats may not struggle with hairballs, others, typically long-haired felines, fight an ongoing fur-filled battle. If this is the case for your cat, the good news is that hairballs are a solvable problem! Read on to learn about the ins and outs of dealing with hairballs in cats. Cat owners know that their furry companions like to stay clean which means they constantly lick their fur to keep it fresh and healthy. However, this behavior can cause cats to ingest some of their own fur. The buildup of hair can result in hairballs that form in a cat’s digestive tract. While hairballs aren’t inherently dangerous, they can cause some health problems. Most cats will throw up the hairballs while others may pass them in their stool. We may not be able to completely stop hairballs from occurring, but there are a few things we can do to help our pets. Whether or not your cat is currently experiencing hairballs, there are a few things you can do to help prevent them from happening: Grooming: While our cats are the grooming pros, you can help decrease the amount of ingested hair by brushing your cat’s fur. Brushing your cat’s fur 1-2 times a week can help eliminate the buildup of excess hair that could

They may have specific tastes, they may have health restrictions, or they may simply want more food than what we are giving them, but when it comes to being a cat parent, we have to ensure we are doing what’s right for our furry friends and not give in to their every want and need. While every cat is different, there are some general guidelines when it comes to feeding our feline friends. Typically, owners should look at what their cat weighs to determine how many calories their cat should eat per day. These numbers also connect to your cat’s age, activity level, and health. Check out the guide below for some helpful tips. If you’re not sure how to proceed, talk to your vet to help you make the right choice. Kittens: Cats are considered “kittens” between the ages of 0 to 12 months. During this time, these little babes need calories to grow! It’s suggested that kittens eat 60-65 kcal/pound, and they will typically eat wet food with a high fat content to help them put on weight and support optimal development. Be cautious not to overfeed your kitten. Watch their weight and adjust their food intake based on their growth. Some cats may grow more quickly than others which means you’ll have to increase their caloric intake more often. If you feel you’re over/underfeeding your furry friend or just not sure the right amount, check in with your vet regarding

Cat parents love their fur babies, but they know how temperamental they can be. Cats like to have things their way, and they will absolutely let you know when they are unhappy. This can be especially true when it comes to food. They know what they like, and they don’t like a change in routine when it comes to feeding. So, how can we switch our cat’s food without disrupting the entire home? Check out the guide below to help make your cat’s diet transition a breeze. Changing cat food can be tricky, but it doesn’t have to be a huge disruption. The goal is to ease your pet into the change, especially if they are picky, older in age or have known health issues. The trouble with transitioning from wet cat food to dry cat food is because of a few things. Cats like the consistency of wet food, along with the generally higher fat content. It tastes better in the same way we might crave a juicy cheeseburger or a fried option. Here are a few ways to make the transition as seamless as possible while keeping your pet happy and safe: The Transition First, choose a dry food formula that is similar to the wet food formula they are currently enjoying. Some formulas will come in a dry option, but if they don’t, then pick one that has the same protein profile to it. Start by adding

A cat’s body contains trillions of live bacteria, most of which reside in the gut. These gut bacteria are part of their “microbiome,” and each cat’s bacteria population is unique to the individual and subject to change based their diet, health status and lifestyle choices. During times of stress and infection, the microbiome balance can increase in the number of bad bacteria, knocking their system out of balance and potentially causing digestive upsets such as decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea or stool changes. Conversely, good bacteria when at optimal levels, have been shown to help keep the digestive system healthy, minimize the proliferation of bad bacteria and work to return the microbiome to a healthy balance. Probiotics for cats are a way to add good bacteria to their bodies. When given to a cat either through their food or as a supplement, probiotics work to help populate and balance the microbiome of the gut to produce positive health effects in both the digestive system and for the overall health of the cat. 70% of a cat’s immune system resides in their digestive tract, keeping it balanced with an array of good bacteria is a great way to ensure that your feline stays healthy. Cat probiotics come in a variety of forms including supplement powders, pills and even coated on the outside of kibble.  When looking for the best probiotics for your cat, it is important to seek an option that not only

Do you shy away from wet dog food because you think dry is a healthier choice? It’s just not true! Here’s why you should consider making the switch to a wet dog food diet. Lots of pet parents believe that dry food is a healthier option then wet food – but that’s not true. In fact, wet dog food is just as healthy. That’s why I feed my puppers both dry and wet dog food (wet in the morning, dry in the evening). Let’s talk about healthy wet dog food and its benefits for you and your pooch. There are many distinct benefits of feeding your pup a healthy wet dog food. Here are just a few of them: Wet dog food typically contains more meat protein than dry dog food – plus, they’re made with fewer carbohydrates. This is especially important for puppies, who need protein to help grow up strong. On top of all that, wet dog food contains no synthetic preservatives and no artificial flavorings and colorings. It’s no wonder that dogs find wet food more palatable than dry food. If your dog continually turns his nose up at dry food, give him a bowl of wet food, as it’s all about pleasing his taste buds. Are you shying away from wet dog food because you’re concerned about your dog’s dental health? Fear not – veterinarians say that that feeding your dog wet dog food won’t harm

If you’re the proud owner of a puppy – congrats! – you’ve probably wondered when it’s safe for puppies to experience certain milestones, like when puppies can have treats, when can puppies go on their first walk and when they should play with other dogs.  Maybe you already gave your puppy a treat or two before you looked up the answer to the question of, ‘When can I give my puppy a treat.’ Your puppy is growing quickly and ensuring they have a healthy diet to meet their nutritional needs is very important during these early stages. In general, the age when puppies can have treats is after two months old. You should always check with your veterinarian about your puppy’s diet, including the types of dog food they should be getting, serving sizes, frequency, and when it’s safe to introduce treats for puppies. That age is a good time to give your puppy a treat because their teeth should be strong enough to chomp down easily on a soft treat, such as Wellness Soft Puppy Bites, and their digestive system should be ready to handle a puppy treat in addition to their regular dog food. As a new puppy owner, you’re probably trying to train your young dog to learn commands and house train them; and having a veterinarian-approved puppy treat can help you do that. Puppies need rewards and positive reinforcement while learning skills and the right treats

If you’re returning to work this fall and that means you’ll be leaving home, your dog might experience some separation anxiety after spending so many quality hours together at home during the quarantine. One option to consider if you’ll be away from home for many hours or, if your dog needs a lot of attention is a dog daycare facility. There can be many benefits of dropping your dog off at a dog daycare, including socialization with other dogs, interacting with humans, regular walks and attention, and even some new toys to play with! Before you start searching for a “dog daycare near me” online, keep these best practices in mind when it comes to using a dog daycare that will suit your needs and discover what you need to know about dog daycare facilities during the pandemic. Just as you might ask friends, family and neighbors to recommend a local physician or contractor, ask around to see if you know anyone who uses a dog daycare near you and is happy with their services. Review local online forums and discussion boards to do some research and then check out reviews on a few websites to get an idea of options in the “dog daycare near me” category. Once you have a few dog daycare businesses to check out, pop in during the day and ask a manager or representative for a tour. You should see staff that loves interacting with dogs

To help your cat live a lifetime of wellbeing, understanding what constitutes high quality dry cat food can make a big difference. Paying close attention to what goes into your cat’s bowl will not only keep them looking their best, but feeling their best, too. High quality nutrition could be considered a form of preventative medicine, potentially saving you future expenses from having to treat serious medical conditions. With so many brands and products available today, what are the key factors to look for when choosing the best quality dry cat food? Here are the top 5 things you should consider when selecting an appropriate diet for your cat: Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they need to consume a meat protein diet and have a higher total protein requirement than other mammals, including dogs. Cats get certain key nutrients from meat—including taurine, arachidonic acid, vitamin A and vitamin B12—that they simply can’t get from plant-based foods. Without a steady supply of these nutrients, cats can suffer from liver and heart problems, not to mention skin irritation and hearing loss. Whilst all brands are complete and balanced to ensure nutritional adequacy for cats, some brands still use inferior plant-based proteins in their recipes. Selecting a high protein, meat-rich brand like Wellness Complete Health and Wellness CORE can ensure that not only will the recipe have a meaty taste your cat will crave, but it will provide sufficient amounts of meat protein to

Just like physical games like fetch and tug of war, playing brain games with your dog is an essential part of raising a healthy and happy puppy! Brain games are a form of mental stimulation that are a great outlet for pent-up energy, can help teach your dog self-control, and reduce or eliminate many behavioral issues. Not to mention they are entertaining for you as well and can strengthen the bond between you and your pooch. No matter if your dog is big, small, old, young high shedding or hypoallergenic they all love brain games! In this article, we cover five of the best brain games to teach your dog—but don’t be surprised when they turn out to be cleverer than you at these activities! Hide and seek is a great game for a rainy day and is one the whole family can play! Start by hiding somewhere in the house, where your dog can’t see you. Then, call your dog. When they find you, make sure to give them verbal praise and a nice treat! If you have other family members, have them hide elsewhere in the house, and call your dog to them. Repeat for as long as your dog is maintaining interest. This is a great game to help work on your dog’s recall. Treasure hunt is a great game to play either in your home or yard. You will set up by hiding “treasures” around the

What do you do if your cat is tipping the scales? Choosing the right food for overweight cats is the first step – here’s what you need to know. My cat’s not fat – she’s just really fluffy! Sorry to burst your bubble, but your cat needs to lose weight. A few extra pounds can turn your cat from a lean feline machine into a fat cat. Even though pictures of chonky kitties are flooding the Internet with their amusing poses, there’s nothing funny about an overweight cat. Would it surprise you to learn that if your cat has an extra three pounds of weight, it would equal about 50 pounds on an average person. And if you’re determined to trim some unhealthy pounds from your kitty’s frame, you’ll need to know what’s the best food for overweight cats. Obesity is the most common preventable disease in cats. About 30 to 35 percent of cats in North American are obese, and 50 percent of cats aged 5 to 11 years old are overweight. When is a cat considered overweight? It’s when a cat is 10 to 20 percent heavier than their optimal weight. You should feed your cat to maintain their optimal body weight. Studies have shown that obesity or being moderately overweight shortens life expectancy. Not only does obesity shorten a cat’s life, it can also make them more likely to develop disease. Obese or overweight cats have an