Veggies For Your Pets?
Vegetables in your dog’s diet, and minor amounts in your cat’s diet, can enhance their health and provide a rich and diverse supply of nutrients, enzymes, healthy fibre and antioxidants. In the wild, dogs and cats would have acquired plant foods through the semi-digested remnants in the stomachs of their prey; vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds.
Canines possess a greater ability to break down plant matter and synthesize relevant nutrients therein. Because of this, although classified as carnivores, they are in fact omnivorous and are not solely reliant on animal meat for sustenance. Wolves can be observed eating fallen fruit and berries, and first consume the stomach and intestines of their prey where plant foods can be found.
Felines on the other hand are obligate carnivores and are unable to manufacture essential nutrients from plant matter. These include the amino acids taurine and arginine, and the fatty acid arachidonic acid. Unlike omnivores cats also cannot convert vitamin A from beta-carotene in plants and need animal-derived sources of vitamin A such as liver. Accept for smaller prey which cats eat whole, in the wild the stomach and intestines tend to be avoided, yet organs such as heart, liver and lungs are enjoyed. Read the rest of this entry »
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Christmas Gifts for Dog Lovers & their Dogs
If you have dog lovers in your family, it’s time to think of some unique gifts you can give them this Christmas. They will remember this gift for a long time if you not only give them a gift form themselves, but include something for their dog or puppy.
To get your ideas flowing, here are some gifts you can get for the dog lover: of course, if you can take some pictures of their dog in advance, many of the following ideas will be even more special.
- a T-shirt/sweatshirt that says “My Dog Loves Me” – they’ll be proud to wear it.
- a picture of their dog framed in a paw picture frame – there is no better way to let them know you love them: every time they walk past this picture, they’ll be reminded of your kind gesture, and that you took the time to give them something special.
- a collectible figurine featuring their dog breed – this will become part of the room dcor.
- a dog lover’s calendar – excellent gift that keeps on giving: every month they’ll have a new beautiful dog to look at and enjoy.
- a nice, fuzzy, personalized throw to keep them and their dog warm on chilly evenings.
- a cooking book with dog recipes
- dog lover screen saver
Get To Know A Veterinarian
If you are a pet owner, it is time that you got to know a veterinarian. Why? Because, quite simply, a veterinarian is like a doctor for your pets. If you enjoy pets enough to own one or many, then you should take the time, energy and money to properly take care of those beloved pets.
Some pet owners believe that a visit to a veterinarian is only necessary when a pet is suffering or ill. And while you definitely want to visit a veterinarian when your pets become ill or start to show abnormal symptoms, you should also schedule routine appointments for your pets just like you schedule regular appointments for you and your family to visit a physician. There is no good reason not to give your pets the best care that you possibly can. Many simple problems and sicknesses can be prevented or solved easily by early detection, even in pets, so make it a priority to see your veterinarian regularly.
New pet owners should make appointments immediately to see a veterinarian and get a full health check for your new friend. Let your veterinarian teach you all about your new pet. Learn about the best ways to care for your pet, the best food to feed it, the best ways to bathe it, and the levels of activity that are necessary for keeping your pet healthy. You may be surprised how much there is to learn about each variety of different pets. Whether you have a dog, a cat, a bird or a horse, I guarentee you that a veterinarian will teach you helpful tips that you didn’t already know. Read the rest of this entry »
