Live Well
The official Blog of Wellness Natural Pet Food

World Pet Memorial Day is on June 9 and is a time for pet owners who have lost a beloved pet to remember, to honor, to celebrate and to reflect on the life of a departed pet. Social media is one of the most popular ways to honor one’s pet on World Pet Memorial Day. Here are some things you can do. Post a favorite picture or series of pictures of your pet on social media. Consider making a photo album of your pet starting from the time he was small or from when your journey together began. Share stories about your pet on social media or on your website. A favorite moment or experience is a great way to remember the love you shared with a pet who has passed. Create a website for your pet. This is a place for you to share pictures, quotes, videos, and longer stories about your pet. Not only does creating a designated page for your pet give you more quality time reflecting on your life together but reading it also could help other pet owners who’ve lost pets. To help others find your online tributes, make sure to use the hashtag #worldpetmemorialday, so other pet lovers and mourners can share in the joy your pet brought and in your shared grief. You can also create a unique hashtag for your pet. In addition to honoring your pet online, there are many special things

While it might feel like those playful kitten and puppy years will last forever, most cats and dogs are considered seniors by the time they are six and seven years old. The senior years are when health problems can start. By being aware of what they are and how to maintain health in your senior pet, you can keep your senior pet feeling, looking, and acting young and spry for years to come. When it comes to pet health care, being proactive is one of the best things you can do. Regular vet visits – Don’t miss those annual wellness checks; your vet is trained to catch early signs of health problems and to make recommendations regarding the best diet and dietary supplements for your pet’s breed, condition, and age. Monitoring your pet’s hygiene – As your pet ages, you will not only want to help with regular hygiene, which includes bathing and brushing, teeth brushing, ear cleanings, gum inspections, eye inspection, parasite checks, and the like, but you will also want to inspect your pet for signs of trouble, for lumps, for dry skin, for missing teeth, etc. Daily exercise – A plethora of health problems set in when animals become sedentary. As a pet naturally ages and as his health naturally declines, exercise can become more of a challenge. By never ceasing a fitness regimen, it can be easier to maintain physical health in an aging or senior

TerraCycle is an innovative recycling company that has become a global leader in recycling hard-to-recycle waste. Wellness Natural Pet Food is the first U.S.-based pet food brand to make its packaging nationally recyclable through a partnership with TerraCycle. So far, the partnership has resulted in 80,000 pet food bags diverted from landfills. Raising a pet is a lot like growing a garden. They both require close attention, proper watering and feeding, and the care that comes with understanding their needs. But while they have their similarities, pets and gardens don’t always get along. Pets around the world have been known to stomp on and relieve themselves in gardens. Sometimes, they’ll eat the plants in it, which not only destroys the space, but can make them sick. Before you resolve to keep the two separate, know that with a bit of help, pets and plants can live harmoniously in the same yard. Here’s a short list of tips for the two-fold goal of raising a pet-friendly garden, along with a garden-friendly pet: A well-trained pet is a good starting point for a peaceful plant garden. Especially if the garden is established as a no-go area, an obedient pet is much less likely to be destructive, and will listen to commands. Creating garden borders can help to keep your pet out. Simple solutions include a small wooden fence, pieces of driftwood, or chicken wire, depending on the pet and plants that need

Alicia is responsible for front office operations at WellPet, ensuring excellent customer service to visitors and employees, and is a corporate culture advocate. Here, she talks about her passion for volunteering at pet rescues and shares some helpful tips for those who are interested in helping animals but might not know where to start. Growing up, my family frequented the MSPCA at Nevins Farm in Methuen, MA to make donations of treats and newspapers – with the added benefit of being able to cuddle the animals available for adoption.  For a place that provided me with such joy, it only made sense for me to give back to their shelter.  I now volunteer at 3 local shelters (MSPCA at Nevins Farm, Salem Animal Rescue League and Lowell Humane Society) that provide a welcoming environment to small and large animals alike while they are waiting to find their forever home. I am part of the outreach teams at these three shelters and assist at on-site and community events.  Goals of the outreach teams are to educate the public about the shelters, raise much-needed funds, and to find homes for the animals.   It always brings me happiness to watch someone interact with an animal for the first time and to see them leave the shelter with a new family member. There tends to be a stigma that an animal at a shelter has something “wrong” with it, but there are many

I’ve grown up with dogs my whole life, and I knew that one of the first things I was going to do once I was on my own was get a puppy. However, the thought of having this overwhelming responsibility was definitely daunting, and I wasn’t sure if it was the right time to bring a puppy into my life. A few days later, Koda, a blue eyed Weimaraner came into my life, and our adventure began. The first thing I learned as a new pet parent was that there’s never going to be a “right” time to get your first dog, and that those first few months are something you’ll never regret or forget. There was a steep learning curve and I found myself scouring blogs just like the Live Well blog by Wellness Pet Food, trying to learn as much as I could about food, vaccines, exercise, and training so I could properly take care of my new best friend. I’ll be the first to admit, my situation is pretty unique. As a professional athlete, I’m home from practice by lunch time most days which allows Koda and I to explore every afternoon, and living in the Pacific Northwest caters to our need for adventure. In his first year Koda’s been to five national parks, visited six states, ran in the Pacific Ocean, camped atop several mountains, and has probably chewed over 1,000 sticks. My schedule also allowed

We’re excited to formally introduce you to Wellness Natural Pet Food veterinarian, Dr. Danielle Bernal. Dr. Danielle travels across the United States and other countries where Wellness is sold. In each place she visits, she educates pet parents on the role that premium, natural nutrition plays in pets’ health and longevity. We were able to catch up with Dr. Danielle for an interview. Keep reading to get to know Dr. Danielle: I grew up in Sydney, Australia on a hobby farm with a backyard full of pets. Having always wanted to be a veterinarian, I completed my Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree at the University of Sydney before working at an equine and small animal clinic. I absolutely adored the life of a veterinarian. Each day was different with unique challenges. Whilst it could be exhausting, it was also so very rewarding. My role at WellPet is to educate our customers, consumers and internal sales and marketing teams about the importance of natural pet nutrition and how our WellPet brands are crafted to support the optimal health and wellbeing of dogs and cats around the world. When I am not helping WellPet customers choose the best products for their pets, I am often found on the sidelines of my 3 young boys’ sporting activities be that surfing, track and field, swimming or football. And my husband and I adore travelling, triathlons and taking our Border Collie Megs down to the

National Kids and Pets Day is on April 26th. It’s both a day to celebrate the bond children and pets share but also a day to remember safety where our pets and children are concerned. It is important to remember that small children as well as pets may not know their limitations and should not be left alone. Supervision is essential to prevent injury. 1. Chores teach responsibility. Giving your children age appropriate tasks for your four legged family member helps build their self-confidence and is a perfect opportunity to reinforce their independence.  As parents, we know enthusiasm can dwindle when it comes to any chore so don’t be afraid to pull out the sticker chart to help! 2. Live an active life. Walking a dog is a fabulous hands-on experience for kids who love pets. With parental accompaniment to ensure their safety, a daily walk can be a rewarding time together with the added benefit of getting some fresh air and exercise for the whole family. 3. Companionship beyond the physical. Pets can fulfill so many psychological needs for children. The unconditional love and affection that pets give children not only boosts their self-esteem but it also helps them make emotional connections of their own. Studies of school-age children in fact have shown those with a pet, tended to be more empathetic and altruistic than those children without a pet, making dogs the perfect teachers of kindness. 4. Understanding

Lyme disease is the most common tick-transmitted disease. The effects of this bacterial infection has varying degrees of severity and can lead to major health problems including kidney failure and death. Keep your dog safe by learning what Lyme disease is, the signs and symptoms of it, how to treat it, and when and where it’s most likely to strike. Lyme disease in dogs is a bacterial infection transmitted to dogs, horses, some cattle, humans, white-tailed deer, and some rodent species via blacklegged ticks, a particularly small, almost impossible-to-see breed of tick. The disease occurs all over the world but was named after Lyme, Connecticut following a tremendous outbreak in the eponymous location in 1975. It is still common in this part of the U.S. According to the CDC, 95% of all confirmed Lyme disease cases stemmed from 14 states: Connecticut Delaware Maine Maryland Massachusetts Minnesota New Hampshire New Jersey New York Pennsylvania Rhode Island Vermont Virginia Wisconsin Confirmed cases of lyme disease in dogs have also been reported in Northern California, Oregon, and Washington. When a host is bitten by an infected tick, the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi infiltrates the tissue and can cause multiple health problems. Infection does not enter the blood stream until after the infected tick has been attached to the dog for at least 24-36 hours. While it is easy to detect Lyme disease in humans because of the circular red skin rash that appears, it

A pet first aid kit is a collection of materials useful in a medical emergency. These resources are helpful for minimizing the effects of an incident before you seek professional medical help from your veterinarian or emergency vet. While pet first aid kits come pre-assembled, the benefit of building your own is that you know exactly what is in it and where the items are. Paperwork & records such as your pet’s ID card with your name and address, the veterinarian’s number, the emergency vet clinic’s number, and the number for animal poison control (888-426-4435), a copy of your pet’s medical history, and list of vaccinations with dates Remedies such as medications, flea treatments, sterile saline eye wash, dish soap for removing toxins from the skin and fur, milk of magnesia for absorbing poison, and hydrogen peroxide (3%) to induce vomiting (note to contact the vet or poison control center before inducing vomiting or administering treatment for poisoning with milk of magnesia) Wound supplies like wound spray, Q-tips, gauze bandage, nonstick bandages, adhesive tape for bandages, wipes, and a Ziploc bag Tools like a flashlight and tweezers, an emergency muzzle (nylon hosiery works well), a nylon leash, eye dropper for flushing wounds or giving oral medication, digital thermometer, and scissors for cutting tape It also doesn’t hurt to have treats on hand or as part of the kit to soothe a pet that has been traumatized by a situation that

Maria is a graphic designer at WellPet. When she isn’t working and cuddling with her Siamese Mogwaii, you can most likely find her at a concert or local Pure Barre studio. Breed variations include Blue, Chocolate and Lilac Siamese cats. Mogwaii is a Lilac Point Siamese. The gene that causes the pointed color pattern is all responsible for the blue color of the eyes that is one of the characteristics that makes Siamese different than other breeds. Known as total chatterboxes (for good reason), Siamese cats are known to strike up conversations over just about anything! In fact, their long, drawn-out meows sometimes sound like a human baby’s cry. Here, Mogwaii’s letting me know that he wasn’t pleased about his recent trip to the veterinarian: Well isn’t this the truth! Mogwaii gets pretty creative in telling me that I’m ignoring him by knocking all my stuff down and unplugging my laptop: True to what the professionals say, I’ve experienced that Siamese cats form extremely close bonds with their primary caretaker–in this case, me! Mogwaii will follow me from room to room and needs to be involved in anything and everything I’m doing. Siamese cats are known for their intelligence; they are highly trainable. Their behavior is described as being more dog-like than cat-like. Unfortunately, Siamese cats are prone to asthma and bronchial illnesses. True to his breed, Mogwaii has been diagnosed with asthma. We treat his asthma using an inhaler with a special attachment for kitties. Since

Spring is here and nothing is more wonderful than the warmer weather, amazing flower blooms, open grass fields, trips to the park, long blissful walks and runs, and Easter! There is just something about Easter that brings a sense of warmth, color, and vibrancy to the air. I love the bright color decorations, the beautiful spring colored décor, and of course all the flowers. As a small animal veterinarian, I know too well how much our beloved pets love the outdoors and holiday festivities. As pet parents, it is so important to be aware of which flowers are safe and which ones can be toxic for your pets, as well as other potential dangers associated with Easter. As the holiday approaches, I wanted to discuss the dangers of Easter for our pets and how we can protect them. Let’s get started: Lilies from the Lilium or Hemerocallis plant are toxic for cats. Easter lilies belong in this family and are a common decoration during the holiday season and on sale in every store. Easter lilies are a threat to your cat and can be fatal if ingested. All aspects of the flower (petals, stems, leaves, and pollen) have the potential to harm your cat. The toxic effects of Easter lilies result in severe gastrointestinal upset, but if left untreated can result in kidney failure and death.  Although Easter lilies are the most common type of lilies during this time of year,

March is Pet Poison Prevention Month. There are many foods, chemicals, and other materials around your house that are safe for you but not for your pets. Print this one-page at-a-glance guide and hang it on your fridge for a year-round reminder of the foods and substances to keep away from your pets. Foods & Beverages Alcohol Chocolate Coffee / Caffeine Citrus leaves, peel, seeds, and stems Coconut and coconut oil Grapes and raisins Avocados Macadamia nuts Milk and dairy Nuts Onions, garlic, and chives Undercooked or raw meat Raw eggs Bones from meat Snack foods The sweetener Xylitol found in candy, gum, baked goods and tooth paste Yeast dough Common Plants Aloe Vera Baby’s Breath Ivy Hostas Sago Palm Tomato plants Poinsettia Lilies Gladiolas Carnations Begonias Tulips Daffodils Mums Ivy Wisteria Lantana Yew Azaleas Hydrangeas Boxwoods Elephant ears Angel trumpets Castor bean There are over 1,000 plants poisonous to pets. These are some of the most common. A best practice is to assume all plants are poisonous and to research the effects on pets before putting them indoors or growing them outdoors. Other Indoor & Outdoor Poisons Human medications Overdose of pet medications Insecticides Rodenticides Fertilizers Weed killers Cocoa mulch Compost piles Antifreeze Pool cleaning chemicals such as chlorine Self-cleaning oven odors Lead paint chips Linoleum Indoors cleaning chemicals Bleach Detergent What to Do if Your Pet is Poisoned If your pet is poisoned, you need to be able