Live Well
The official Blog of Wellness Natural Pet Food

In honor of Happy Healthy Cat Month this September, we chatted with Lori Dover, president and founder of St. Huckleberry Animal Fund, an organization that prioritizes animal well-being in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Q: You founded St. Huckleberry Animal Fund in honor of your kitten, Huckleberry. Could you tell us about his impact on you and your drive to make a difference?  A: St. Huckleberry Animal Fund is named in honor of my beloved kitten, Huckleberry.  Based out of my hometown of Lake Charles, Louisiana, the St. Huckleberry Animal Fund mission statement is to provide and promote the humane treatment of all animals by building a global movement to end animal cruelty and a motivating force for good on their behalf. Q: Can you tell us about your background before St. Huckleberry?  A: My career background includes art acquisition and R&D (research and development) in creating and bringing to market innovative products in the Pet category that solve real problems for pets and pet parents. Shortly before the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, I debuted an LED technology and Fiber-optic illuminated dog safety leash on QVC. A few months later, my hometown was devastated by 4 historic disasters (in the span of 9 months) which resulted in extreme economic hardship on the human scale, and far worse for animal welfare.   St. Huckleberry Animal Fund volunteers distributing Wellness cat food at free event on August 30, 2024 Q: Since founding your organization in 2021, what

With the back-to-school season in full swing, your pets may be wondering where all their favorite people went! After spending the summer surrounded by friends and family, they might find the sudden quiet of being home unsettling, which may lead to separation anxiety. If your pets seem a little more anxious these days, don’t fret—we’ve got some tips on spotting separation anxiety in dogs and cats, and how to soothe their nerves as they adjust to a new routine Many dogs and cats associate their owner’s presence with safety and stability, which helps them stay calm. When that familiar presence is removed, pets sometimes struggle to cope and act out with anxious behaviors. Although separation anxiety can look slightly different in dogs and cats, the symptoms are there if you know what to watch for. What can be mistaken for a bit of barking or the occasional accident when you’re away, could really be a sign your pet is struggling when you have to be apart. Once you understand how your pet may express stress when you’re away, then you’ll be better equipped to take the right steps to help them calm down. Whether you’re dealing with puppy separation anxiety or anxiety in older dogs, no matter the age of your canine companions, here are some behaviors to note. 1. Excessive Barking or Howling: Dogs may bark, whine, or howl continuously when left alone. Since howling is how dogs often

There’s always something new to discover when you set out on a hike, but choosing a dog friendly trail so you can go hiking with dogs is sure to up your entertainment on any adventure. From all the unexpected sights to the exciting new sounds (and don’t forget a whole lot of fresh smells!), your favorite furry friend can help you experience a trail like never before. But not every trail is a dog trail! It’s important to do your research before you get out on trails with dogs. 4 Key Things to Know Before Hiking With Dogs 1. Where you’re going—and that it is, in fact, a dog friendly hiking trail 2. Any policies related to dogs on the trail, i.e. if it’s an on or off leash dog hike 3. That you and your big or small active dog are prepared for it—from the terrain type to the trail length 4. The weather for the day you plan to go hiking with a dog Depending on the terrain, trail length and weather, another big part of prep when hiking with pets is to make sure you have the right essentials packed for your four-legged canine companion: leash, poop bags, pet first aid kit, plus plenty of food and water with a collapsible bowl. Wellness® Puppy Bites are easy-to-pack treats for walks with dogs, and you might consider beefing up their diet for a little extra energy with Wellness®

Summer may almost be over, but that doesn’t mean the fun in the sun—or the traveling with pets—has to end just yet! No matter if you’re into pet friendly road trips or flying with a dog or cat, there’s still time to load up your four-legged family members for one last summer hurrah in some of the best pet friendly cities across the U.S. To help with the last-minute planning, we’ve put together this list of the best places to travel with pets in each corner of the country, including a few comfy pet friendly accommodations and must-see pet friendly attractions for each. Northeast: Boston, Massachusetts It’s very walkable, filled with dog friendly parks and trails, and will give you and your big or small dog a healthy dose of history in addition to exercise. Where to Go: Boston Common (America’s oldest park!), Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, The Back Bay Fens full of dog friendly trails, 2.5-mile Freedom Trail. Where to Stay: The Liberty Hotel (a Wellness Pet Company personal favorite dog friendly hotel!) Helpful to Know: While service animals are allowed on the Boston T public trains and subway cars at all times, non-service dogs of all sizes are welcome during off-peak hours (7-10 AM and 4-7 PM on weekdays) as long as they’re well-behaved, leashed and do not take up a seat. South: Austin, Texas There are dog parks, pet friendly patios and green spaces galore—plus beaches

August is National Dog Month, a time to shower our furry best friends with extra love and appreciation. But beyond the cuddles and belly rubs, it’s also a perfect opportunity to support their wellbeing and happiness. A healthy pet starts with a high-quality diet like Wellness® that supports the 5 Signs of Wellbeing™. And now you can boost that great nutrition with a daily multi-benefit supplement. This simple daily supplement provides the added supplementation your dog needs to support a healthy body all around. This year, consider incorporating a multi-benefit dog supplement into their routine! Just like us, dogs have complex nutritional needs. While a balanced diet is essential, a multi-benefit supplement can provide that extra boost to support various aspects of their wellbeing. Here’s how these Wellness® scientifically backed Multi-Benefit supplements can support your dog’s health: Supporting Vibrant Skin and Coat: The first thing someone will notice about your dog’s health will be the health of their skin and coat. It is a window into the body that can represent nutritional health, immune health, and hormone balance. Sometimes, despite a high-quality diet and a healthy pet, the coat could still use a smoothing shining boost. This supplement includes zinc, which is needed for a number of enzymes essential in rapidly dividing cells like those of the skin and for converting some fatty acids into usable forms that benefit the skin and coat.1-4 Wellness® Multi-Benefit supplement is also rich in

Some companies celebrate Bring Your Dog to Work Day on the Friday after Father’s Day in June—others celebrate pets at work every day (like Wellness Pet Company!). No matter whether you’re lucky enough to have office dogs (or even cats, fish or hermit crabs) around one day or all the days of the year, it’s important to make every person and pet involved as comfortable as possible. Once you’ve checked on your office pet policy to see what’s fair game in your dog friendly workplace, it’s time to make your friendly dog feel as welcome at work as they would be at home. Here’s a few ways to do that when you bring your dog to work: 1. Establish designated doggy space at your desk to keep workplace pets comfy while you work with a special office dog bed and toys. 2. Set up pet-gated areas specifically for dogs at work to get in some play (ideally group play). 3. Fill up that water cooler! Ensure all the playful office puppies always have access to plenty of fresh water to gather ’round and stay hydrated. 4. Keep your pet-friendly work environment extra pet-friendly with a treasure trove of treats on hand for all those good boys and girls—and to keep them busy when you’re busy with meetings. (Try WHIMZEES® by Wellness® Dental Treats, Wellness® Puppy Bites, Old Mother Hubbard® by Wellness® P-Nuttier crunchy biscuits and/or Old Mother Hubbard® by Wellness®

Hey there, fellow feline aficionados! Are you ready to tantalize your cat’s taste buds and keep them purring with delight? Look no further than new Wellness® Appetizing Entrées™, where every bite is a whisker-licking adventure! Cats are fascinating creatures with unique dietary needs. Unlike their canine counterparts, felines are obligate carnivores, meaning their bodies are specifically designed to thrive on an animal protein-based diet like Wellness® Appetizing Entrées™, where poultry or fish is the #1 ingredient. In addition to an animal protein-based diet, two crucial aspects are often overlooked for feline health when it comes to mealtime – hydration and dietary variety. Wellness® Appetizing Entrées™ are the perfect solution to adding both to your cat’s daily routine with 9 new crave-worthy recipes to help promote hydration with a broth base and a variety of adult cat formulas with shreds, flakes and mousse textures. The importance of hydration cannot be stressed enough for our feline friends. But let’s face it, convincing a cat to drink water can be like herding… well, cats! Cats descended from desert animals and naturally have a low thirst drive. This can lead to chronic dehydration, especially if they solely rely on dry food. Dehydration can have serious consequences, impacting kidney function, urinary tract health, and overall wellbeing. Water is vital for every bodily function, including digestion, nutrient absorption, and temperature regulation. Proper hydration helps keep your cat’s organs functioning optimally. Encouraging moisture intake is crucial for

As pet owners, we love our pets and often want to take them everywhere we go. So it’s no surprise if you’ve ever considered camping with dogs—or even cats, adventure-seeking hedgehogs or whatever your best pet friend might happen to be. But before you hit the road and start traveling with pets to the nearest pet-friendly campsites, there’s a few camping tips for pet owners that can make the adventure a lot safer and more enjoyable for everyone (and every set of paws) involved! Tip #1: Know Yourself—and Your Pet Some pets, like people, are more outdoorsy than others. So first consider if camping is an enjoyable thing to do with your dog or other pet. Does your pet like being outside in nature? Do they sleep well in the dark and in new places? If you have a backyard, pitch a tent and do a trial run before you travel all the way to a pet-friendly campsite with all your pet camping gear in tow! Tip #2: Check the Weather—and the Rules Before you hit the road, it’s worth making sure your experience of camping with pets is set up for success. Keep an eye on the weather to see that it won’t be too hot, cold or rainy. Find a dog-friendly campsite and know their leash laws and other ground rules. If you’re planning to bring any pet other than a dog, you’ll want to check on the

While summer is a time of fun and games for dogs and cats, some days are just too hot for any outdoor fun—and heat stroke in dogs and cats is definitely not a game anyone wants to play. Pets can be sensitive to high temperatures, and it’s important to be especially mindful of their wellbeing during hot weather and know when it’s time to spend some time enjoying indoor pet activities instead. Temperature – Dogs and cats can tolerate a wide range of temperatures, but extreme heat can be dangerous. When the temperature reaches around 90°F (32°C) or above, it’s crucial to take precautions to prevent heat-related illnesses and consider choosing inside games for dogs and cats. Humidity – High humidity can make hot weather even more challenging for pets to tolerate. When humidity levels are high, pets may struggle to cool themselves through panting, leading to an increased risk of heat exhaustion or heat stroke in dogs and cats. Time of Day – The hottest part of the day is typically between late morning and early afternoon. During this time, it’s best to stick to indoor play for dogs and cats in a cool, shaded area. Breed and Coat – Some dog breeds are more susceptible to heat-related issues than others, especially those with short muzzles or thick coats. Brachycephalic breeds like Bulldogs, Pugs, and Boxers, for example, have a harder time regulating their body temperature in hot weather

They don’t call it the dog days of summer for nothing! Sure, this phrase may have more astronomical roots, but there’s no denying we’re coming up on some astronomically hot days. That means more than just planning dog friendly summer activities—you’ll want to keep an eye on summer safety for dogs and signs of heat stroke in dogs, too! But with the right mix of fresh thoughts on summer fun for dogs and knowing how to cool down a dog, you and your pup will be ready for plenty of healthy fun in the hot, hot sun. 1. Take a Dip – Cool your dog down with a swim in a local lake, river or dog friendly water park. If you’re up for an extra adventure, try paddleboarding with a dog! 2. Splash It Up – You can also keep your dog cool in summer—in your own backyard! Bring out the puppy pool, haul out the hose or have a splash in the sprinkler. 3. Have a Lick – Summer fun for dogs can be even more fun with a cool, refreshing treat like a homemade puppy popsicle. Take a pup-sicle break with the tasty recipe below. 4. Seek Some Shade – Some summer activities for dogs are best (and safest) in the shade instead. Lounge by the pool or take a hike on a shady dirt trail to enjoy the great outdoors and keep dogs cool outside. 5. Make

Much like us humans, our pets can easily become dehydrated especially in summer’s warmer months or sudden heatwaves. Described as the process of excessive water loss from the body, dehydration can range from a mild case to that of a severe matter of life and death. Monitoring our pets and giving them extra support during warmer days becomes critical to keeping them save. So, what should you look for, what steps are recommended to keep them healthy, and, if your dog is suffering dehydration, how can you help treat them? Let’s take a closer look: So, how can you prevent this? Firstly, it is important to know that 60% of a dog’s body weight is made up entirely of water so monitoring their hydration status, especially during the warm and humid months, is crucial to keeping them healthy. What may surprise many pet parents, however, is that mild dehydration of 5% or less is often undetectable. Once above 5%, the visible symptoms of dehydration can include the following:   External symptoms of dehydration include: Lethargy Weakness Dry mouth, nose, or gums Sunken eyes Loss of skin elasticity Collapse Increased heart rate Weak pulse Panting Behavioral symptoms include: Appetite loss Depression If you think your dog may be suffering from dehydration, you can also check with an easy at home test called ‘skin tenting’. Simply lift the skin on the neck near the head, and if the skin stays up like

Unbeknown to many, dogs enter their senior years by the time they’re roughly seven-years-old. As dogs age, their health deteriorates. Also unknown to many, your dog’s dental hygiene is a gateway to their overall health. To keep your senior dog healthy, it’s important to adopt a daily dental health regimen. The best way to know if your dog’s teeth are healthy is to get your dog regularly checked out by the veterinarian. They will check your dog’s teeth for plaque buildup and their gums for signs of disease. They will check for broken or missing teeth as well. You can also spot signs that your dog’s teeth are healthy. Indicators of a healthy mouth include: Pink gums; no whiteness or excessive redness and no bleeding Clean white teeth without hard, scaly discolorations toward the gum line Fresh-smelling breath; dogs with healthy teeth don’t have bad breath (bad dog breath is not normal regardless of your dog’s age) Dog dental hygiene starts when your dog is young (ideally), but even if you’re not implementing a regular dental health plan, you can certainly start one. As dog’s age, things naturally wear down and will need maintenance. Lower stores of calcium, phosphorus, and B-complex vitamins can also impact the integrity of your dog’s teeth. Meanwhile, zinc and antioxidant deficiencies contribute to gum disease. Thus, there are a few important ways to maintain your senior dog’s dental health. Brush your dog’s teeth. Even your