Live Well
The official Blog of Wellness Natural Pet Food

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

You love to cuddle with them. They never want to leave your side. There are so many reasons the world loves puppies – and none of them are wrong! – but here are 10 reasons why puppies are the best. After a long day of work or just life in general, watching your puppy run and skid across the floor can put a smile on your face. Puppies are great little stress relievers and watching them experience the world around them is fun for everyone. Whether that’s from playing with them, giving them their dinner, or giving your puppy a treat ‘just because,’ having a puppy snuggle up against you to thank you is one of the sweetest acts our dogs bestow on us. Nothing says, ‘I love you,’ like a puppy licking your face. And since puppy breath can occasionally use some freshening up, we suggest Wellness WHIMZEES puppy chews as a daily breath freshening treat they’ll gobble up. Your puppy probably needs to get a lot of energy out through walks, playtime and chasing them around the house. All of that moving on your part adds up to extra steps and exercise you might not have gotten otherwise. It may have been a few years since you played with toys as an adult but once you break out a ball, chew toy, plush animal or another puppy toy, you’ll have so much fun with them that you’ll feel like a kid again. Shopping

Are you a pet owner that thinks, “My cat doesn’t eat dry food?” Think again! If you’d like to incorporate more dry food into your cat’s nutritional plan, here are six easy ways to create some fun during meals by taking advantage of the stability of dry food and your cat’s natural instinct as a hunter. Time to play! This is a very basic and easy way to create a puzzle feeder. If you’re unfamiliar with this term, a puzzle feeder is simply a food-dispensing toy. The cat manipulates the toy and she’s rewarded with food. Puzzle feeders are becoming more popular for many reasons. Whether it’s to help a cat eat slowly, combat boredom, or just for fun, puzzle feeders are a natural fit for an animal who is born to hunt. Chances are, you already have some water bottles at home, so here’s a way to re-purpose them for your cat’s enjoyment. Take a small, empty water bottle that is completely dry and carefully cut some holes in it. The holes should be larger than the size of a piece of dry food. To help your cat understand the concept, make the holes big and create many of them. After the holes are cut, put some pieces of dry food in the bottle and put the cap back on. Put the bottle on the floor and lay it on its side. When your cat walks by, she may detect

There are many reasons a cat or kitten could be severely under-nourished and need a high calorie cat food to help gain weight and boost general feline health and wellbeing. Fortunately, there’s a great selection of both wet and dry recipes, all readily available off the shelf, that can be a nutritious fix. A high calorie cat food offers cats a well-balanced diet that features protein – meat, fish or poultry — as first ingredient and contains no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. Because cats often have preferences when it comes to taste and textures, under such special circumstances, it’s a good idea to cater to a feline’s favorites, particularly, if the cat needs encouragement to eat or is a fussy eater. Dry food recipes show the calorie content of a cup of food in Kcals. For example, a recipe that has 497 kcal/cup ME (metabolizable energy) means that one cup = 8 oz of that food = 497 calories. Cans and pouches show the kcal content in terms of the weight of the food, for example 96 kcal/3oz can or 177 kcal/5.5oz can. When a cat or kitten that has just been rescued and is severely malnourished. For a frail or elderly feline. For a sick cat that has lost weight as a result and now needs to regain weight. Post-surgery to boost a quicker recovery. For very picky eaters who are not getting enough proper nourishment. For a

While brushing your dog’s teeth is one of the most effective things that pet owners can do to maintain their pet’s oral health at home, we know how hard it is to try to brush your dog’s teeth, never mind daily. With 80% of adult dogs suffering from some form of dental disease, it is important to look for alternate options like treats for bad dog breath. Dental treats and chews, if properly designed, have the potential, alongside regular dental cleanings, to keep plaque and tartar buildup to a minimum and help you and your dog stay ahead of dental disease.   A dental chew is a supplementary treat for bad dog breath that is designed to help improve the health of your dog’s teeth, gums and overall dental hygiene. As a completely digestible treat, dental chews work by mechanically scraping their teeth as they chew like the action of a toothbrush. Best of all, unlike the difficulties of brushing, chewing is something dogs love to do. It is a species-specific natural behavior for them, it is done for fun, to alleviate boredom, and to relieve anxiety, with the added benefit of helping clean their teeth! Whilst the gold standard for at home care is always brushing your dog’s teeth, VOHC accepted dental chews are scientifically proven to help reduce plaque, reduce tartar, freshen breath and help gum health. Walk into any pet specialty store and you will see the wide variety

Talk to any cat parent and they will often testify as to their cat’s finicky eating habits, especially their likes and dislikes. Paying attention to your cat’s bowl not only gives you insight into how they are feeling overall, but it also enables you to monitor their wellbeing. Should a cat stop eating for any reason, it can quickly become a serious health issue. A refusal to eat is a concern for all pet parents, but for cats, this situation is especially dangerous. When an animal does not eat enough nutrition to obtain all the calories they need, their body instead relies on utilizing its fat reserves as fuel. Should a cat stop eating for a period, rapid weight loss will commence. During this process, their body activates the liver to converts the stored fat into energy and relies on sufficient supplies of protein to help them achieve this. With a cat who has stopped eating, their body’s protein supplies are quickly exhausted resulting in their liver becoming overwhelmed by all the fat. This results in a dangerous condition known as hepatic lipidosis, which can lead to liver failure. There are a variety of reasons that impact how, when, and what a cat eats. A complete loss of appetite, however, can often indicate a potential underlying illness. If you notice your cat’s eating behaviors change, you should consult with your local veterinarian right away to determine the cause of the

Not all cat foods are created equal. Here’s what you need to know if your cat has a sensitive stomach. These days, you need to know what is going into your cat’s bowl. There are so many cat foods on the market; some are made with low-quality ingredients that trigger digestive issues such as a sensitive stomach. For cats with sensitive stomachs, this could be cause by a problem with your feline’s diet. Although it’s normal for your cat to hack up the occasional hairball, vomiting, regurgitating undigested food, or experiencing frequent diarrhea can signal a deeper issue. If you think your cat has a sensitive stomach, look for these symptoms: Vomiting or regurgitation Diarrhea or constipation Changes in stool Increased thirst Unexplained weight loss Changes in coat appearance Recurrent skin problems These symptoms can either be acute or chronic. In the case of acute digestive issues, these symptoms will come on suddenly, while chronic issues develop over time. Acute digestive upset may be because of a change in diet, infection, intestinal disease, or stress. You’re more likely to see chronic digestive problems due to food allergies or sensitive stomach. The first step you should take, if you believe your cat has a sensitive stomach, is to contact your veterinarian. Your vet can run tests to rule out any underlying medical problems and offer treatment options. If your cat’s issues are food-related, the next step is to transition her onto

Mealtime for your cat may be very straightforward – you offer the food and your cat is right there to eat it, or you offer food and kitty nibbles at will throughout the day. In some households though, especially where there are multiple cats, mealtime may be a little more complex and requires finesse to make sure everything remains peaceful and happy. If you’ve been wondering what your cat’s body language means when she’s around food, here are some clues to help you better understand what might be going on. Let’s start with an easy one. Your cat takes great comfort in familiar routines so her internal clock lets her know when it’s about to become mealtime. Even though you may never be late in offering food at the same time every day, she may still sit there in anticipation. If you have a rescued cat who previously had to hunt for meals, she may always retain concern over whether there’s enough food. This can also be the behavior of a cat who is put on a weight reduction regimen. Sometimes a cat will sit by the food bowl and meow as it gets closer to mealtime. Every time you walk into the kitchen you may be greeted by a vocal reminder. Unless you free-feed by leaving dry food available, make sure to take food bowls up in-between meals. Just leave fresh water available. To ensure you don’t reinforce constant

Ah, the joys of dog ownership. Collecting little baggies of fun on your daily walks, apologizing to the neighbor for the loud barking your furry friend lets out whenever he sees a (shhh! Don’t say it!) squirrel, and, of course, brushing his teeth. There are many wonderful moments provided by your pooch, but the time spent in doggie dental care might not rank high on your list of favorites. Which is why most owners (gulp) tend to skip it. There are so many questions: “How do you brush dog teeth?” “What do you use for dog teeth cleaner?” The fact of the matter is this: your dog’s overall health depends on the health of his teeth. Just like with humans, poor dental health can cause a wealth of other health problems , including heart, liver and kidney disease. That’s why it’s critical to incorporate dental care into your dog care routine (including brushing your dog’s teeth and offering toys and treats that promote good dental health). It’s also important to schedule a dental cleaning with your veterinarian. The simple answer is anywhere from $150 to $500 without extractions, which is a pretty big range. While prices will vary from vet to vet, there are a few factors that play into the cost of the procedure, including: Your Dog’s Weight This seems like a simple factor, but a heavier pet will require higher dosages of all medication, including anesthesia, all of

Today, dog food is available in a wide variety of formats, flavors and forms. Since freeze-dried dog food has recently become more popular, many pet parents have questions about this new type of dog food. Here, we’ll break down what freeze-dried dog food is, as well as the benefits and challenges that come along with feeding your dog freeze-dried food. Then we’ll share our recommendation for how to incorporate freeze-dried food into your dog’s diet. First, let’s cover why freeze-dried dog food is becoming popular. Pet parents and nutritionists agree that high quality, proteins like turkey, chicken or salmon, often found in freeze dried foods, deliver excellent nutrition. Protein is essential for the growth and maintenance of almost all the tissues in a dog’s body. At a molecular level, dietary protein supplies the amino acids necessary for the body to build hair, skin, muscles, cartilage, tendons and ligaments. And to a dog, a protein-rich diet will most always be their top preference, because high-quality meat ingredients deliver a delicious aroma and taste. Freeze-drying is a technique that preserves raw ingredients such as fresh meat to deliver a finished dog food product which is safe, shelf stable and lightweight. Freeze dried dog food is technically raw and full of nutrients. Freeze-dried dog food provides minimally processed nutrition for dogs which appeals to pet parents seeking an alternative to plain kibble. Excelling on taste, freeze dried dog food can be used as

CBD Oil has been the talk of medical journals for years, and in the past few years has popped up frequently in mainstream news as an alternative medical approach to a variety of health issues. As more and more has been discovered about the uses for CBD oil, its use in pet health treatment has gained in popularity, particularly for the treatment of anxiety. CBD Oil for dog’s anxiety is a focus of discussion, and many pet parents are asking the question: will CBD oil help my dog’s anxiety? The topic itself (as with all CBD products) is a complex one, but as with all health treatments, there are pros and cons. Here is everything we know about the benefits and side effects of CBD oil for dogs. Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a compound derived from hemp, and to be classified as CBD, the oil must contain less than 0.3 percent of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive compound in cannabis that produces the ‘high’ feeling. Because CBD contains less than 0.3 percent THC, there is no psychoactive reaction. Most CBD oil is derived from hemp. It’s important to start by saying that there is not definitive scientific data supporting the use of CBD oil for dogs, but there is a growing amount of anecdotal evidence from pet parents that lends to CBD’s use for pain, particularly neuropathic pain. CBD is also used to help control canine seizures. The use of

Some pet parents add raw dog food as a treat or kibble topper, and others passionately feed it with the belief that raw dog food offers real, natural ingredients that provide unmatched nutrition with a minimally processed advantage. It goes without saying that superior nutrition has been proven to support a long and healthy life for pets and contributes to both their physical and mental wellbeing. That said, what format is truly the best way to feed our dogs? Just like us, dogs are individuals and a diet that might work for your friend’s dog may be completely inappropriate for your dog especially when you consider the unique nutritional requirements that come with breed, size, age and health differences. If you are thinking of changing your dog’s daily diet, a great first step is to always consult with your veterinarian to ensure your dog gets the very best personalized care. This type of diet is based on the combination of raw, uncooked meat (often muscle and organ meat), whole or crushed bones, fruits, vegetables, raw eggs and some dairy which are freshly prepared prior to feeding. When researching the benefits of raw, you quickly find that scientific support if often thin, causing veterinary and medical skepticism but, you will also find anecdotal enthusiasm from fellow raw feeders who convincingly detail the clear health benefits they see in their dog. Think about your dog as having a carnivorous heritage with omnivore