Holistic Pet Care Articles and Tips

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Did you know that dental care is just as important for your dog
as it is for us human beings? Just like with our teeth, your
dogs’ teeth can gather plaque during eating. This plaque can
then build up and harden which then becomes known as a brown
substance called tartar.

Then as this tartar accumulates it will work its way beneath
the dog’s gums and become the reason behind painful infections
and gum disease. This process occurs in the mouths of dogs, and
is no different to what occurs in people. You no doubt brush
your teeth on a regular basis, but think about your poor dog
for a moment. What can he/she do?

The Veterinary world says that dog owners should brush their
dog’s teeth twice a week to stop the accumulation of tartar.
Well, I honestly don’t know any owners who take the trouble to
do this. Hopefully you do. A lot of pet shops stock
toothbrushes and toothpaste especially for dogs. You need to
know that a dog’s sense of taste is a lot more sensitive than
that of us humans and the minty, tingly, sort of toothpastes
that we use will be pretty unpleasant to a dog. So just make
sure you use the proper doggie toothpaste.

It is fortunate that dog’s have a natural tendency to chew and
this acts as a dental care mechanism. Dogs crunch biscuits into
small pieces when chewing and these rub against their teeth,
providing a cleaning function. This is no substitute for
brushing, but if you can’t manage that, just try to ensure
he/she regularly gets some type of crunchy dog biscuit.

Any dogs that do not get the correct dental care and do not
have access to good teeth cleaning foods run the risk of
different types of mouth disease. These can be mild like
gingivitis or a rather more serious type of infection that can
get into the dog’s bloodstream and damage vital organs.

Dental services are readily available for dogs. A dog’s teeth
can be capped, filled, and extracted if required, just like a
human beings. Of course the best way is to avoid the need for
these services by looking after your dog’s teeth. Preventative
dental care for your dog can save you money as well. Dog dental
care can unfortunately be quite costly, but then it’s less
painful than toothache.
About The Author: James Hunaban is the owner of -
http://dog-health.jims-info.com/ and
http://dogs-care.jims-info.com/ – sites dedicated to Dogs.

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Choosing superior dental products for your pets:

Good oral hygiene is a daily commitment whether it’s through brushing, feeding good treats, safe bones, or healthy hard foods. Moreover, you definitely can’t share your toothpaste with your pet! Pets aren’t like us – they swallow whatever you use to clean their teeth. The toothpaste we use simply isn’t edible. Nor is the strong minty flavor desirable for pets. Human toothpaste can give your pet some critical stomach problems, and this is why you’re better off using Daily Oral Care for your dearest pet.

Daily Oral Care is a tasteless and odorless liquid that acts in your pet’s water to naturally freshen breath. It has no artificial ingredients or harsh chemicals, and combines refreshing Peppermint oils with yucca’s cleansing action to neutralize foul digestive tract odors. Our ula is a superb way to supplement your home pet dental care routine, helping your pet maintain a healthy and pleasant smelling mouth.

Another outstanding dental care product is our delicious and nutritious Peanut Butter Treat, with a unique Triple-Action Formula. It contains: Microdent®, a patented plaque-reducing ingredient found in oral care products such as breath fresheners, dental floss, and toothpaste. It works by creating a coating on the teeth, which interferes with plaque buildup – effectively making the mouth slick so as to prevent plaque from sticking. It has been found that Microdent® aids in reducing plaque buildup by up to 54%; Calcium and phosphorus, key minerals that promote healthy teeth and bones; Parsley, an herb which is a good source of vitamins A, B, C, K, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and iron, also has a high clorophyll content found to help sweeten unpleasant breath; Wholesome ingredients, such as honey, peanut butter, whey, whole dry eggs, canola oil, and rolled oats; Absolutely no artificial colors or preservatives.

You can also try� our Dental Chews for Dogs – a healthy alternative to rawhide that makes oral hygiene fun for your pet. They are made with real pork skin and a blend of chlorophyll and mint. Easier to digest than rawhide, they provide a safer chew texture which helps scrape off the buildup on their teeth and keeps them busy for hours.

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Holistic Pet Care Articles and Tips

Prevailing logic says that having pets causes allergies in many people. But new research indicates that the relation between pets and allergies may not be what you think.

Having companion animals in the home may actually help to reduce allergies, according to new research. The nine-year study, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, investigated the respiratory health of nearly ten thousand adults in relation to their lifelong history of having companion animals in their homes. Previous studies have indicated that exposure to cats and dogs in early childhood may make one less likely to develop asthma and allergies later in life. This study added to this evidence, noting that pet owners had significantly lower incidences of allergies – by over 30% – than those who had no pet.

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The reason why cats purr has been the subject of great debate among feline experts. At present, there is still no consensus regarding whether the behavior of purring is voluntary or involuntary.

Purring is generally understood to result from the vibration of vocal cords that is amplified by air pushed in and out by contractions of the diaphragm. Both domestic and wild cats (including big cats that do not roar) are known to purr. Kittens are capable of producing purrs within a day after they are born, often purring while suckling.

Purrs are one element of the murmur vocalization group, sounds that can be produced while the mouth is shut. Purrs are believed to communicate pleasure and contentment, but cats will also purr when they are frightened or ill, and some will even purr while delivering kittens. Some experts believe that during these latter, stressful situations, the purring may be an attempt to reduce stress. When cats purr in the presence of other unknown cats or kittens, purring may serve to convey submissiveness or a friendly intent.

Although we may never know exactly why cats purr, perhaps we can all agree that purring is a most pleasant sound, and that our cats must feel some contentment while making those light lulling rumbles.

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From the moment your pet takes a bite of food, the digestive progress begins. Yet this complex process of breaking down nutrients also plays a vital role in the body’s natural defense system.

Every digestive system contains millions of bacteria. While some of the bacterium can be harmful, many actually help to support the healthy functions of the body. These organisms, called probiotics, help the immune system adapt to internal changes.

Many people do not realize that within the digestive system is one of the most important and largest groups of immune cells – the Gut Associated Lymphoid Tissue (GALT) – which communicates with the immune cells located throughout the body. In some respects, the GALT is the first line of defense in the body.

Whereas most of the cells in our body receive nutrition from the blood, this is not true for the GALT – it receives the majority of its nutrients from probiotics.

Whenever you – or your companion animal – take a course of antibiotics, it kills all of the bacteria, regardless of its ultimate effect (healthy v. unhealthy). That’s why your doctor may recommend that you eat yogurt while taking antibiotics – to re-establish the healthy bacteria in the GI tract to avoid intestinal distress.

Probiotics are necessary to maintain the healthy ecology of intestinal microbes known as the “gut flora”. The types of bacteria contained in the gut differ from species to species, and animal to animal, but there are commonalities. These helpful bacteria can have numerous positive effects on the body, including:

Causing chemical reactions that metabolize foods into vitamins and energy

Competing with unhealthy microorganisms, helping block their adhesion to the lining of the gut wall

Increasing tolerance of unhealthy bacteria by stimulating the defense system

Protecting the gut mucosal barrier, thereby promoting the health of the gut lining The community of bacteria in the intestinal system protects its host from invading unhealthy microorganisms in an effort called “colonization resistance”. This resistance appears effective at supporting intestinal health. Clinical trials on humans show very clearly that probiotics are useful in supporting a healthy digestive system.

A recent study on the common cold found that use of probiotics helped decrease not only the period, but also the severity of associated symptoms.

When incorporating probiotics in food, there are two areas overlooked by some manufacturers: (1) using a wide spectrum of different types of probiotics, and (2) protecting the probiotics from heat during the cooking process. Under the direction of Dr. Jane Bicks, HealthyPetNet paid particular attention to these important criteria when developing Life’s Abundance Food for Dogs and Cats.

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HealthyPetNet’s exclusive formula contains five types of probiotics, all of which are guaranteed to be viable after cooking – and after your companion animal eats Life’s Abundance. These natural bacterial cultures help your pet’s digestive system work at peak efficiency, allowing her or him to get even more nutrition from our wholesome food. The probiotics in Life’s Abundance helps to ensure a healthy intestinal flora, which supports:

Production of food for healthy enterocytes (specialized cells lining the GI tract)

Increased nutrient absorption

GALT, which communicates with systemic immune systems

And to protect these beneficial bacteria, HealthyPetNet micro-encapsulates the probiotics prior to cooking the food. This process ensures that the probiotics will survive, and thus will be able to establish and maintain healthy digestive system cultures.

HealthyPetNet understands that a healthy GI tract is important for a strong defense system. That’s why they’ve also included an ample supply of all-natural fiber and beet pulp, which are also important for maintaining and supporting digestive tract health. And, of course, Life’s Abundance contains a wealth of nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants to keep your companion’s body as healthy as possible.

Life’s Abundance Food for Dogs and Cats is truly a high-quality food with all the trimmings!

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Holistic Pet Care Articles and Tips

On October 6th, the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act was signed into law. The legislation requires state and local emergency preparedness authorities to make plans to accommodate companion and service animals in the event of natural disasters. If these organizations do not submit these plans, they will forfeit funding by FEMA. Additionally, the legislation allocates additional federal funds to pet-friendly emergency shelters.

The PETS Act was introduced into the House last year in response to public outcry when Hurricane Katrina evacuees were forced to abandon their companion animals in order to be rescued, and the resulting suffering of the animals left behind. Proponents and supporters believe that the provisions for adequate disaster planning outlined in the PETS Act will help to prevent such a debacle from occurring in future evacuations.

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Since its appearance in Florida in January, 2004, the highly contagious, viral respiratory infection known as Canine H3N8 has spread throughout the U.S.

Some researchers believe the current strand jumped species (which is highly unusual), originating as a strain in horses. Canine H3N8 is so virulent, nearly every dog who comes in contact with the virus will contract the illness. And with one out of every five dogs exhibiting no visible symptoms of the illness, you can never be certain if you’ve encountered the virus.

There is a Canine H3N8 diagnostic kit, developed for veterinarians by Cyntegra of San Diego, which can provide results within 24 hours at a cost of around $100, but its availability is not widely known.

The most common symptoms of canine influenza include:

Soft, moist cough

Thick nasal discharge

High fever (104° – 106°)

Shallow, quick breathing

At present, there is no vaccine on the market today to protect against canine influenza. The most severe cases can lead to pneumonia, with fatality estimates between 5% and 8% of cases. However, the majority of dogs will recover completely within 30 days.

Your best option is preventative – avoid situations where your dog may encounter many unknown dogs. And if you come in contact with a dog you believe may have the flu, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly (and possibly change your clothes) before interacting with your dog. Be sure to feed your dog a healthy diet. Look for the latest information by monitoring local advisories for incidences of canine flu in your area or ask your vet.

If you suspect that your dog may have contracted the canine flu, contact your veterinarian immediately for treatment options.

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Holistic Pet Care Articles and Tips