We all know that it is important for us, humans, to consume sufficient vitamins daily for our bodies to function properly. We all chose to take our vitamins differently; they could be taken by the food we eat, or even by taking supplementary pills. Both ways work fine and equally if consumed properly. Without vitamins, our bodies would have difficulties performing our normal daily tasks; such as fighting infections, building our immune system, thinking, laughing, running, smiling, working, sleeping and the list goes on.

As vitamins help us humans to be healthier and stronger, it also works the same way for our pets. Since pets are not able to determine what’s best for them, they rely on us to choose their own health decisions and it is essential to do what’s best for them. It is a proven fact that nutritional supplements can lead to a better health and a stronger resistance to diseases. Lack of vitamins, for both our pets and ourselves, could lead to long term illnesses. Pet supplements (Petaminz for cats and dogs) guarantees that your companion will daily receive the sufficient nutritional package that he or she needs for a great vitality and a strong quality of life. If your pet is sick, Petaminz helps boost up the immune system, fight off the disease and heal faster. If your pet is healthy at the moment, with this pet supplement your cat or dog will remain healthy and stay strong for a longer period of time.

Consult your veterinarian about any suspected health problems. If your pet suffers from lack of energy, unpleasant digestive system or vulnerability to infections; it is possible that it could be due to shortage of vitamins in your pet’s diet.

Just like there are foods that don’t agree with us and pills that we can take to make ourselves feel better, Our Dogs and Cats experience the same.

If your pet is suffering with discomfort or not feeling as good as they could be, they won’t be as happy or as energetic. This will become evident in their behavior and might even cause them to act out.

Vitamins and nutrients are essential to your pet’s diet. In most cases, the pet foods you give them contain sufficient levels of these. However, supplementing your pet’s diet with additional items such as Glucosamine is also an essential step in preventing joint deterioration and helping your pet live a happier, healthier and longer life. By reducing pain and inflammation, your pet’s overall demeanor can change.

A supplement specifically manufactured for pets, such as Petaminz, that contains sufficient quantities of glucosamine is a good start. If you have seen a change in your older pet’s behavior and you think it might be caused by joint pain, you might want to give Petaminz a try. Or, if you have a younger dog and you want to help keep arthritis at bay, Petaminz might be a good choice for you too.

Whether you are raising a puppy or caring for a dog into it’s last days of life, gaining an awareness and overall knowledge of the dog health issues will benefit you, and your best friend, in a variety of ways. Of utmost importance is learning how to best keep your dog healthy, as health problems can be progressively painful and equally expensive sometimes leaving the dog owner with the difficult choice of putting their dog down / to sleep / basically having to have their dog killed for not being able to afford whatever health care measures are needed to keep your dog out of pain.

Providing proper, well-rounded diet and exercise to your dog is the imperative first step to maintaining their long-term vitality. Just because the dog food you see in the grocery store says that it’s complete, or that it offers full nutrition, as there are no stringent regulations to this sort of advertising/labeling we advise you to guide your dog food choices with the assistance of a veterinarian so as to ensure that their nutritional needs are being fully met. Sometimes it is necessary to imbibe guidance from your veterinarian based on a specific dog health assessment as vitamin, mineral or enzymic supplementation may be needed to help prevent or treat certain dog’s health conditions. Insofar as exercise is concerned, having the correct balance of exercise needed for your dog’s breed, genetic disposition or health conditions (i.e. arthritis, anxiety) is also something from which you will likely benefit from professional veterinarian advice.

The best types of exercise that you can give your dog may include interaction with other dogs (social running and playing) as this can ease their anxiety in some cases. Some dog owners take their dogs running when they go running, and while this is convenient especially in the case of a cooperative dog this kind of exercise can be sub-par to play-central types. Furthermore, running your dog along side your running routine can in some cases over-exert your dog.

If your dog is feeling pain or not healthy, it can be difficult to know – especially since they can tend to try to hide any ailments due to their animalistic nature not wanting to reveal weakness to possible predators. This can make it difficult for the pet owner to know if their pet needs treatment or a change in diet, and can be dangerous even if rigorous exercise is forced upon the discreetly unhealthy dog. Overall, your best bet with keeping your dog’s health in tip-top shape is to steward him or her with the close guidance of a trusted veterinarian. Build a relationship with a local veterinarian who takes the time to answer questions, and you can help assure that your dog’s and your relationship can be as long-term and happy as possible.

Given that the regularly available dog food available is simply dehydrated carbohydrate and protein meal sprayed with vitamins and minerals, the availability of enzymes is generally nullified. Enzymes, as well as probiotics, are essential for promoting proper digestion and absorption of vitamins and minerals in your dog. Here we will look at the importance of both enzymes and probiotics in promoting dog health and longevity.

Even if you are able to provide your dog with the best pet meal available, if ample required enzymes and probiotics aren’t also provided then the nutrients you are attempting to provide them with a superior diet cannot be absorbed thus rendering your higher-quality diet as useless as most mainstream kibble for benefiting your dog’s health. Raw dog diet’s generally do contain more enzymes than the dry or wet processed alternatives that have been stripped of necessary dietary requirements due to overprocessing. Enzymes in dog food are necessary to enable nutrient absorption, as we already mentioned, as well as maintaining energy levels, immune system strength, healthy weight and white blood cell production. Providing enough enzymes to aid your dog’s digestion also can prevent degenerative diseases as well as cancer. Reduced cholesterol and artery plaque, as well as increased ability to shed toxins from the body, are also seen with the addition of required enzymes to the dog’s diet. There are many other benefits seen with enzyme supplementation. Not having ample enzymes in your dog’s diet will require their body to draw on any stores they have in their body, putting further pressure on their health.

Probiotics on the other hand, or Microflora, are bacteria that live inside your dog’s intestines the presence of which is required for maintaining health. They kill bad bacteria and fungus and enable proper nutritional absorption as seen with the enzyme dog diet requirement. The term ‘Probiotic’ literally means ‘for life’, and is the case with all nutritional needs normally not met by regularly available diets they are popularly supplemented with the guidance of a veterinarian to ensure that your dog’s diet is properly rounded out so as to maximize their health.

Here we are going to take a look at two of the most popular questions asked of dog and cat owners in regards to their furry friend’s health, well-being and long-term health. These are by no means all issues that a pet owner need learn about when taking the role of animal stewardship, but it’s a start. The internet is a fantastic resource for dog and cat owners to learn how best to care for their pets though this information should always be reviewed with a veterinarian to assure the best facilitation for the animal.

What are main concerns when raising a puppy or kitten?
Of paramount importance is pet diet especially when in the first few days of life when collistrum is needed in milk so as to ensure a healthy immune system can develop and protect your pet throughout it’s life. After eight weeks of life the consideration of vaccination should be reviewed with a veterinarian or pet health clinic. Vaccinations are available for the prevention of a wide variety of pet health conditions, and are often needed to be given in intervals over a span of about four weeks as is the case in the Rabies vaccination for cats and dogs. Spaying or neutering is done to pets to prevent them from reproducing, which is of utmost importance if your animal is going to be an ‘outside’ pet. This prevents your pet from impregnating neighborhood pets or strays, which sadly results in more strays which often are unfortunately brought into shelters and killed for lack of a home. Spaying is the removal of ovaries in the female cat or dog, and Neutering is the removal of testicles. If you are adopting your pet from a shelter they most likely will be released to you having already not only been spayed or neutered, but also microchipped or tattooed for identification purposes should they ever be lost. It is important that you keep your contact information current with the microchipping or other pet recovery system so that you can be contacted should your pet be lost, found and then ‘turned into’ a shelter.

What parasites can harm my dog or cat’s health?
There are different parasites that can host on your pet, both internal and external, and steps should be taken to prevent their interference with your pet’s health regardless of whether your pet is allowed to play or roam outside or if they are strictly an ‘inside pet’. Tapeworms are very common, which are actual worms that are unable to be seen by the naked/unaided human eye. Sometimes you can see them though, actually, as segments of the large worm that has infected your pet’s insides. If you see white, moving bits the size of a grain of rice around your pet’s tail then your dog or cat may have worms. Tapeworms are caused by the ingestion of fleas or mice and they reside in your pet’s intestines. Another sign that your pet may have worms is if they do a strange scoot of their bottom across the floor, which is their way of ’scratching the itch’ caused by the segments of Tapeworm irritating their bottom. Fleas are an external parasite which as we just mentioned can cause tapeworm. Most notably fleas are a nuisance in that they feed off of your pet and cause irritation and itching. A home that has a pet with fleas will most likely see the humans being affected as well, with flea bites that leave itchy welts. There are many over-the-counter remedies for preventing or repelling flea infestations though the most reliable methods can be obtained via your veterinarian. Another external pet parasite is the tick, which can be repelled / prevented with some pet products. Ticks can cause Lymes disease in both humans and dogs so it is best to take measures to prevent infestation. Heartworms are another parasite, internal, which affect the dog and they are caused by mosquitos. They are parasites that infect the dog’s heart and can only be detected via blood test. Again, prevention is key with this parasitic pet infection and this can be obtained with a once-a-month tablet administration.

The Greyhound dog breed, demure in nature and looks, is the type of dog from which all seminal canines descend. Known for their aptitude for speed they have been used in racing since the nineteenth century. The Greyhound is popularly adopted when retired from racing, when their ‘use’ has waned with age and the racing owner no longer has the need to upkeep and maintain the animal. This breed of dogs make for wonderful companions as they have already been trained and will likely be grateful to have a new caring, attentive owner. Unfortunately there are thousands of Greyhounds who are unable to find new homes upon ‘retirement’, and the Humane Society simply does not have the resources to maintain them all. This results in the very sad ending of the Greyhounds being sold to research labs, breeders or foreign racetracks with inhumane conditions. If you are looking for a dog companion, the retired Greyhound is a no-brainer.

By ‘retired’ Greyhound it’s not to be inferred that their companionship will be sub-par. The term is simply used to describe the fact that they are no longer in optimal racing condition, possibly making their upkeep more costly than what could be earned through coursing. As with all dogs however, when entering middle-to-older age, tending to nutritional and emotional sensitivities will be as challenging as rearing young pups – this is why pet supplements can be important. The addition of dog supplements to their diets will likely be necessary. Personality-wise, the Greyhound is a naturally sensitive animal, so if your household is not conducive to their nature then it may be best to consider a different breed (i.e. tugging children, no one at home, etc.).

Adopting a Greyhound who has been ‘retired’ from racing will likely ensure that you acquire a companion who is gentle and non-aggressive, highly intelligent and trained, warmly affectionate, peaceful, quiet and clean. In addition to these personality characteristics, the Greyhound is a beautiful, elegant dog breed. If you have the space for him or her to get ample exercise and feel comfortable, there are many caring adoption centers who care for and place Greyhounds when they are in-between their racing careers and settling into a caring home.

A factsheet on Greyhound racing and adoption can be found here.

Just like their masters, dogs have very specific needs nutritionally and care-wise in general when aging due to their system weakening and their less-active behavior. Old age in canines also sort of ’sneaks up’ as it does in humans, with a gradual process of systemic changes and decline. A dog that has lead a healthy youth, having been provided all necessary nutrients through dog diet and dog supplements, will be more apt to ‘ease’ into old age with fewer problems than a dog who has been denied basic care – even as early as the first days of life. One major difference between the dog’s aging and a human’s aging process is that of course the canine life-span is significantly shorter, with the medium to large breeds living between eleven and fourteen years and the smaller dog breeds living even longer. You may have heard that one human life-year is equivalent to 7 dog years, this isn’t quite correct as dogs reach adulthood in the first two years of life. So the calculation is slightly different: the first two years of a dog’s life are near equivalent to 10.5 human years (each year) and then after the first two years of a dog’s life the near equivalent is that one human year is like 4 years for the dog.

You can tell when a dog is entering ‘old age’ by noticing some behavioral and health changes, and it’s important that the pet owner takes a pet into their home knowing that they will need to offer close attention to them for more than a decade so as to ensure they live as comfortably, healthy and happy as possible. Decreased interest in goings-on around the house or neighborhood is one of the first signs of aging, though it could also be that your dog is bored and not getting enough attention/change of scenery. Sleeping sounder and for longer periods of time is also an indicative quality of the aging canine, as is the observed difficulty getting up from said night’s sleep or nap. As is the case in older humans, stiffness and aches need to be slowly worked out after a good rest. Making sure your dog gets ample exercise will help stave off this age-related stiffness. Temperature intolerance is also noted in aging dogs, where hot summer days or extremely cold winter days or nights when your pet used to run outside without flinching suddenly instill trepidation. Aging dogs are sensitive, however they also can be non-sensitive too in the fact that loss of eyesight and hearing can make them appear disinterested and unaffected. Loss of these two senses is very common in aging dogs! You will also notice changes in the fur coat of your aging dog, as just like human’s whose skin loses collagen with age the same affliction occurs in the canine and thus affects their ability to produce and maintain a healthy coat. With age all body systems deteriorate, in dogs you will see symptoms of the bladder and/or kidneys ceasing to function as well as other signs indicative of liver and heart-health decline. Immune system health also deteriorates with age, though ensuring that your dog had proper nutrition in the first few days (yes, days) of life can impact the rate at which their immune system breaks down in old age.

Supplements may be given to improve their collagen, either topically or to be mixed in their food i.e. flax seed oil. There are also dog supplements available that can help maintain their eye health, as well as any other organ that naturally deteriorates with time. Dog supplements used in addition to their core pet diet are widely available and quite necessary to be chosen and catered to your dog’s specific health and breed needs. Proper nutrition can help stave off the health problems that inevitably come with old age, if only for a few years. Adding a few years to your dog’s life is like adding a decade in the human equivalent, and who wouldn’t want to keep their best friend / companion as healthy and at peak vitality for as long as possible?

Many cat-lovers are interested in the more exotic selection of breeds than the domestic. Some of the many exotic cats that are pure-bred include Bengal, Chausie, Pixie Bob and Persian. Here we will discuss the history, disposition and some characteristics of each. When looking to purchase any pet, to ensure their long-term pet health it is essential that you know the breeder is reputable and this can require some research online and via your veterinarian. WhyPetSupplements.com has many articles that discuss what to look for in a reputable breeder, so feel free to browse our articles!

The Bengal kitten can be purchased from a reputable breeder and is a relatively new hybrid. Bengal cats are noted for their ‘wild’ appearance will have a personable temperament provided they are several generations removed from their Asian Leopard wild ancestor. The Bengal Tiger species on the other hand is not related to the Bengal cat at all. Their coats are spotted, and they are more vocal than their domestic counterparts having more of a chirping, crying nature of speaking.

The Chausie is a hybrid of the domestic and Jungle cats, with the domestic breed used being the Abyssinian. The males can grow to be quite large, clocking in at 25 pounds! The female Chausie cat breed is significantly smaller, however. The Chausie kitten and cat may require special nutritional diets due to a high instance of digestive track problems. Considering this aptitude, if you have a carpeted home or own expensive rugs the choice of this breed as an addition to your family may prove more costly than anticipated when purchasing the Chausie kitten from a breeder. Commercial cat food, which we’ve discussed in other articles here on this site, contains wheat fillers and gluten – two ingredients to which the Chausie can have an intolerance so they may require a special cat diet and cat supplement regiment.

The Pixie Bob was originally considered to be exotic due to Bobcat lineage however this has since been dispelled, though we will discuss the Pixie Bob cat here due to the prior exotic assumption under which this cat was sold. They are bred to resemble a Bobcat, with a short tabby coat. The Pixie Bob kitten will grow to be quite large, with the average adult male clocking in at nearly 18 pounds and their female counterpart at 14 pounds. They are intelligent, active yet calm, friendly and mesh well with other pets. Because the genetically diverse Pixie Bob is derived from inbreeding they are prone to many health problems.

The first Persian cat dates back to the 1600’s, have the look of an old man with a large moustache due to their short, furry muzzle, and are commonly seen in cat food commercials. There are numerous types of purebred Persian cats available from breeders. All types of Persian cats are susceptible Polycystic kidney disease (PKD), though breeders claim to screen for and remove from breeding those with this genetic defect.

There are many other exotic, pure-bred cats available and we will discuss more of them in detail in a later article. Due to the inbreeding often required to ‘invent’ these breeds they can be susceptible to health problems that can be an added cost not considered when making the investment in these dear kittens. Making yourself aware of the proper nutritional requirements for these cats, as with all pet dietary needs, is one of the most important roles of the pet owner. Pet supplements can also be discussed with your veterinarian so as to stave off some future health problems that can plague your cat’s longevity.

Whether you have chosen stewardship of a cat, a dog or both, providing proper care for your pet is a priority to ensure that they maintain long-term health and happiness.  In addition to caring for your pet in ways to prevent future health problems, such as choosing the best pet food and providing ample exercise outlets, love and attention are also integral to maintaining optimal pet health.  Here we will take a brief look at these three essential parts that form the foundation of a healthy pet partner.

In regards to your cat or dog’s health one of the most important investments that you can make is to provide high-quality pet food, and taking the time (online research, veterinarian consultation, etc.) to find the best quality and most suitable pet supplements to round-out your pet’s diet.  The old cliche  ‘you are what you eat’ holds as true for our pets as it does for us humans.  While there are many inexpensive pet food options available, the non-nutrient rich fillers that make up most of their contents not only deprive pets of needed vitamins and minerals they can actually cause harm in some cases.  An example is the dog who is gluten-sensitive, though we also need to demonstrate caution with feeding our pets cheap, filler-based pet food as the corn / grain they are comprised of is often-times genetically modified – a process that no one has yet witnessed the long-term effects that such consumption might bring, and there are ongoing debates over the effect of genetic processing on nutrient density.  In short, choosing the higher-end pet food can help ensure that your pet is getting the most nutrient-dense diet available.  And supplementing the pet’s diet, in a way that is specific to your pet’s particular health needs (i.e. arthritis, coat health, heart issues), with vitamins, enzymes, probiotics, minerals and omega fatty acids is essential to round-out the dietary needs of pets of all ages and health conditions.

Just as with humans, exercise is just as essential for the pet to maintain optimal health.  Keeping within a healthy weight range is even more of a careful requirement for a pet than for a human.  For instance, on a cat just one or two pounds over weight this can present the same burden that thirty pounds on a human might.  Exercising your cat or dog in a healthy manner (not over-exerting, just a healthy play-session workout) will keep them occupied (we all know that a bored pet usually results in a naughty pet, eating anything in site including the couch or socks or other things that present a choking hazard and, well, destroy your household), and this daily attention will lift their spirits.  A happy pet is more likely to live a longer, healthier life and exercise outlets are an integral part of keeping your furry friend’s spirits high.

Another preventative pet care measure involves a small, monthly pet insurance premium.  Many pet insurance plans are under $20 a month and provide stock benefits like preventative pet healthcare (think vaccinations)  as well as coverage for major health events like surgery or other emergency care.  Keeping your pet healthy can help prevent the onset of very costly emergency veterinary visits.  Small investments of your time in the form of attention and love, as well as choosing high quality pet food and pet supplements, can help prevent future health problems.  Pet insurance is the third pillar of pet health care to ensure that when / if a health emergency does present itself you have the means of paying to get your pet through the difficult time.  Employing these three pillars of pet care will come naturally to any pet owner who loves their pet and wants to ensure their long-term vitality.

There are many interesting stories regarding the addition of a cat to a ‘dog’ household and vice-versa.  Both species are predators, though the cat is more of a loner than the dog, who is a pack species.  Having both these differing and common traits influence the normal clash seen in having one or more of each of these household pets.  The pet ‘drama’ between cats and dogs can be stirred up occasionally even between the best of household friends, even those who ‘grew up together’.  While raising a puppy and a kitten together influences their territorial forgiveness and ultimate respect for each other, this rather rare situation can also show signs of disruption between the two species.  Environmental disruption to a pet, whether from the owner, neighborhood or even other pets, can have a negative effect on pet health just as much as stress to humans is also well known to instigate health problems.  For this reason we will take a look at the pros and cons to raising a puppy and kitten, or cat and dog, or any combination the the above on a dog or cat’s health.

If you psyched about bringing a puppy home to a family with one more more cats, don’t expect everyone to be so excited about the new addition.  Cats are loners, and are also territorial not only for concerns of food scarcity and general survival but also for sharing / protecting your attention.  Often times the cats can go into near full isolation-mode at the introduction of a wiggly puppy to their scene.  Of course they will still eat, but any fun lap attention that you had before will be greatly reduced as your cats choose to hide out from the strange, new, loud and altogether invasive-feeling creature you have come to adore – the new puppy.  Children have been known to pose the same effect on cats, so consider a cat hotel or other pet care option for your cats if you are expecting rambunctious infant or adolescent guests for a while.

When introducing a kitten to a home already made comfortable by a dog great care must be exercised to secure the kitten’s health from being battered by possibly much stronger, and playful, canine family member.  Even if the dog or puppy is careful in their curious kitten approaches you can never tell when they might act up or decide to chase the kitten (or cat).  Most important is to protect your kitten addition (or reverse the adoption / kitten purchase altogether) from rough or aggressive dogs or puppies as such altercations can lead to the death of your kitten if noticed too late.

There are many tips available from your pet’s veterinarian, and even online on pet health forums and the like, regarding the expansion of your pet family and assuring that all members are appropriate matches.  Ensuring that your current cat’s health or dog’s health is protected by providing a comfortable environment and care is the pet owner’s number one priority.  If you can also ensure that new pet additions will not impose a risk to any animal party’s health, then do some research before introducing the irresistible new pet to your home.