Live Well
The official Blog of Wellness Natural Pet Food

You want to feed your new pup the best possible diet. But what is the best, most nutritious and scientifically proven diet for puppies that ensures growth and optimal health? When compared to adult dog, puppies need tailored nutrition for growth. What does that mean exactly? I asked an expert – Wellness Pet Food Veterinarian, Dr. Danielle Bernal – what you need to do to ensure that you choose the best food for puppies. Just like you would with food you’re purchasing for your meals, the same goes for puppy food – always check the label. When you’re shopping for food, Bernal says to look for the following on the label: Breed size specification: Nutrition varies for the breed size of the pup (small, medium and large), so a brand that caters to each size needs is key to making sure the bowl is customized for every pup. Made and scientifically proven to support puppies: so you know it is formulated for growth and not maintenance, because an adult has different nutritional needs. Total body health nutrition: while puppy recipes are formulated to support healthy growth and development you want to ensure that their nutrition also enables them to look and feel at their very best by supporting their 5 signs of wellbeing: healthy skin and coat, optimal digestion, healthy energy, immune health and healthy teeth and bones. Quality of the ingredients: You want fresh meat first and concentrated meat meals,

When you go into a pet supply store to look for dog food, you often see the words “kibble” on the packaging, but what is kibble? Simply put, kibble is dog food, specifically dry dog food. Quality kibble is crafted to contain all the vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients your dog needs to thrive. And as a dog’s nutritional needs changes, their food must change with them. So, let’s take a closer look at what kibble is made of and how you should be feeding kibble to your pup. Kibble is made from ingredients, such as meat, vegetables, legumes, grains, and nutritional supplementation. Regardless of the top ingredients or flavor on the packaging, all quality kibble is formulated and balanced to meet your pup’s nutritional needs. For example, the Complete Health Lamb & Barley dry food contains high-quality protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals that are needed for optimal adult health. Quality kibble is formulated to meet a dog’s nutritional requirements, tailored to their breed size, life stage and activity. Delivering the key nutrients that support health and energy, premium brands of kibble also go that step further with added health benefits like probiotics and prebiotics for digestive health, glucosamine & chondroitin for joint health and omega fatty acids for that lustrous skin and coat. These extra enhancements support the total health of our pets so they not only look great but feel great too. How can you find a high-quality kibble?

From soft pâtés to gravy-laden chunks of meat, canned cat food has a particularly delectable appeal for most felines. It’s the literal cat’s meow! Canned cat food is extremely palatable, and the premium texture of the food provides your cat with a scrumptious mealtime experience. A variety of flavors allows you to provide your cat with new meal options throughout the week. If your cat loves lapping up a bowl of canned cat food, you might even find your adorable feline begging for more when mealtime is done, which leads to the question: How many cans of wet cat food per day is the right amount? It’s not always clear since, with the high moisture content of canned cat food, you’ll need to feed your cat more wet food than you would dry kibble. How many cans of cat food per day you feed your cat has a lot to do with the food you choose, as well as the size and age of your cat. Let’s take a look at how many cans of wet cat food is the right amount to contribute to a healthy, happy cat. As you consider how many cans of cat food to feed your cat in a day, it can be helpful to begin by understanding how many calories are in a can of cat food. While the total number of calories in a single can of cat food will vary based on

Taking care of your dog’s oral health with healthy dog dental chews is an important part of caring for their wellbeing. Unfortunately, dental disease affects 80% of adult dogs and 96% of senior dogs over the age of 12. As a pet parent, there are numerous things you can do to prevent your dog from suffering from poor oral health, such as brushing its teeth and visiting the vet for dental cleanings.  One easy way to contribute to your dog’s oral health is to give them a daily dental chew. A good dental treat for dogs should not only help fight the build-up of plaque and tartar but also contain natural ingredients. If you are looking for healthy dental chews for dogs, check out our top five picks. Each of these dental treats is designed with high-quality, natural ingredients that contribute to your dog’s overall health.  If you are looking for healthy dental chews for dogs, these are a great pick! In fact, WHIMZEES brushzees Natural Daily Dental Chews were voted the best vet-recommended chew on the market. WHIMZEES brushzees are designed to make teeth cleaning a fun experience for your dog. Designed specifically for the way dogs grip and chew, the unique shape of the treats features grooves and ridges that help reduce plaque and tartar. This dog chew shape is the only one with the VOHC seal of acceptance.  With these dental treats, you can turn playtime into clean teeth and fresh breath. These

Every morning and night, you brush your teeth to prevent the buildup of plaque and tartar. Oral health is, after all, a big part of your overall health.  For your canine family member, the same is true. Poor oral health can negatively impact your dog’s overall well-being. However, only 2% of pet parents brush their dog’s teeth. Over the years, this can lead to dental disease and even the loss of teeth.  To help contribute to good oral health, some pet parents turn to dental chews. But do dental chews really work for dogs? And if so, how do dental chews work?  In this article, we’ll uncover the science behind how dental chews work and talk about brushing your dog’s teeth vs. dental chews. With this knowledge, you can take the best possible care of your dog’s teeth.  As a pet parent, you want to do everything you can to keep your dog as healthy as possible. As you explore options for caring for your dog’s oral health, you might wonder if dog dental chews work for dogs and if dog dental chews are effective in reducing plaque and tartar.  The good news is that a simple dog dental chew a day can do wonders for your dog’s oral health. Giving your dog a daily dental chew can help reduce plaque, tartar, and bad breath.  However, just like any dog product on the market, the quality of the dog dental chew will

You grab your dog’s leash from its hook and watch as your furry friend dances in excitement. You pick up a tennis ball, and your pup jumps up in anticipation of a game of fetch. For most dogs, going on a walk or playing a game is the highlight of their day. Dogs are naturally active animals with a desire to stretch their legs and get off the couch. However, over the years, you might notice your dog begins to slow down. Their hips and joints seem to be a little stiffer than before, and leaping up from the ground isn’t as easy as it was when they were young. For many pet parents, this is when they begin to wonder, “What is the best hip and joint supplement for my dog?” We all want to see our pets bounding through life, but 1 in 5 dogs suffer from osteoarthritis and joint pain, prevalent more often in large breeds, overweight dogs, and senior dogs. For these dogs, physical activity may be accompanied with discomfort, reluctance, or even physical restriction. The good news is that for pet parents, there are plenty of options to help your dog regain a spring in their step. With a daily hip and joint supplement, pet parents can feed a tasty reward that dogs love and support their dog’s joint health hip and joint health at the same time. Let’s take a look at how you

What Supplements Should You Give Your Dog? As a pet parent, you want to do your best to ensure that your pup has all the nutrients it needs to be healthy and happy. This might lead you to wonder, “Should I give my dog supplements?” and, if so, “What supplements should I give my dog?” In this guide, we are here to help you understand the role supplements play in a dog’s diet and what type of supplements might be right for your furry family member. Let’s take a look. Home-cooked or raw diets for dogs can end up unbalanced if not done correctly. Those imbalances can potentially lead to longer-term health impacts, making supplements especially important to ensure all the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals are perfectly balanced for your dog’s wellbeing. But what if you feed your dog commercial kibble or wet pet foods? The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) sets strict regulations around balancing vitamins, minerals, fats, proteins, and carbohydrates specific to a dog’s life stage. These regulations ensure that recipes deliver complete and balanced nutrients that meet all the daily needs of our pets and help them thrive. However, even with well-balanced meals, supplements can contribute to the holistic care of your pup. While not all dogs require a supplement to ensure that they receive balanced nutrition, for certain health concerns, some extra support can aid overall wellbeing to ensure every pet is healthy and

Make the most of cooler temperatures by turning on the oven and whipping up these homemade winter dog treats for your four-legged friend(s). The house is going to smell so good—you’re going to want to sample them yourself! You may have noticed that some dog food recipes include ingredients like sweet potatoes. That’s because sweet potatoes are a good source of potassium, fiber, vitamins C and A. Here are some homemade winter dog treats you can make with this seasonal vegetable. If you have extra squash around, try this butternut squash dog treat recipe. Try these good-for-your-dog sweet potato dog treats recipes. 1 Large sweet potato (about 1 to 1.5 cup) 2 Cups of flour (white or whole wheat) 2 Eggs, beaten 1/3 Cup of peanut butter 6-8 Wellness Old Mother Hubbard Winter Fun P-Nuttier Dog Treats Wash and peel the sweet potato. Boil until it’s tender and soft, about 12 minutes. Drain and let the potato cool. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking pan or two with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, mix the flour, eggs, peanut butter and mashed sweet potato until completely combined. If it’s too dry add a few teaspoons of water. If the mixture is too wet, add some flour. Roll the dough on a nonstick surface using a rolling pin until it’s ¼” thick. Use a cookie cutter to create winter dog treat shapes that look like bone, or stars or

The holidays are all about giving, sharing, and enjoying as much time as possible with loved ones. Our pets are included in that category! Show your cat or dog how much you love them with these great dog gifts and gifts for cats. Whether you’re looking for holiday stocking stuffer ideas like treats for dogs or cats, want to gift your pet something like a special toy, or have a special human in mind that would go gaga for these gifts for dog lovers and gifts for cat lovers, we’ve got you covered. These holiday gifts are perfect for your favorite four-legged and two-legged loved ones. The best gifts for dogs and cats to give and get. (Yes, it’s okay to send this to a friend and let them know what you want!) Your dogs or cats are sure to love all of these gifts, but we have a feeling the cat treats and dog treats are going to be the biggest hit out of the bunch.  Kittles™ for kitties are available in three delicious flavors, Tiny Tasters please even the pickiest of cats, and CORE® Tiny Tasters™ are perfectly-sized pouches that come in a variety of flavors. These are great gift for cats if you’re traveling for the holidays with your pet. Help your dog keep their smile healthy and bright for holiday kisses with WHIMZEES Brushzees (XS-XL) or add some holiday flare with WHIMZEES Winter Shapes dental chews (S, M).

Wellness Pet Company celebrated Halloween this year with our first #TrickorTreatThemWell Costume Contest. We asked you to send us pictures of your furry friends in their Halloween best and let us just say, they were they boo-tiful! Thank you to all who submitted your pawesome photos, this year’s entries were fang-tastic! It was a ruff choice, but the results are in, and we’re pleased to announce the winners of each category that will receive a spooktacular prize! Congratulations to all the winners! Starring Frost Starring Twiggy Starring Jessica and Indio

As a cat parent, one of the most important things you can do to contribute to the long-term health of your feline family member is to schedule a cat wellness exam with your vet at least once a year. During a wellness exam, your vet will help diagnose any potential health concerns and assist you in keeping your cat up-to-date on important preventive healthcare. Before you schedule your next cat wellness exam, you might wonder how much a wellness exam for a cat costs. Cat wellness exam costs can vary depending on the services your vet provides. However, we can tell you the average cost of a cat wellness exam is $45–$55 for the basic physical. From here, additional tests and services can range from $25 to $300. Therefore, the total bill for your cat wellness exam will depend on your cat’s specific needs. In this guide, we’ll talk about what to expect from a wellness exam, the typical services included, and where you should go to get a wellness exam for your cat. Part of the reason it is hard to define the exact cost of a cat wellness exam is that the services included will depend on your cat’s specific needs. During a cat wellness exam, your vet may offer any of the following services: A physical exam: Your cat’s vet visit will include a basic physical examination. During this exam, your vet will inspect your cat for

Bringing home a new kitten is an exciting experience. With their playful antics, adorable bean toes, and endearingly tiny meows, kittens deliver immense joy to their families. However, if you are a first-time kitten owner, you might also feel a little overwhelmed by the prospect of caring for such a small furry being. Feeling uncertain is a natural part of becoming a new pet parent, which is why we are here to help. In this first-time kitten owner guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to prepare for your new kitten and offer tips on helping your kitten transition to its new home. By using the following first-time kitten owner checklist as your guide, you’ll be ready to welcome your kitten home in no time. Before you bring your kitten home, it’s helpful to gather all the supplies you’ll need. Having these supplies on hand ahead of time will help make it easier to settle your kitten into its new home right away. The following is a checklist of first-time kitten owner supplies to use as your buying guide: A Bed: As your kitten settles into your home, it will need a cozy place to sleep. A soft bed can help your kitten feel secure and safe. Food & Water Bowls: Start with small bowls, which will be easier for your kitten to eat from. A Litter Box & Litter: Be sure to choose a small litter box that is