Training your dog with toys vs. treats
Not all dogs are food-motivated, which can make treat training ineffective. Here’s how to use toys as training rewards instead. This may be hard to believe, but not all dogs are motivated by food — and that’s okay. Food is not the only reward in the world. This article is aimed at dogs who are unmotivated by treat-free training, but the tips that follow can be a good change of routine for any dog – including those that find food too exciting and can’t focus on learning when there’s the slightest possibility...
Hairballs and cat gut health: what you need to know
A look at the connection between hairballs and gut health in cats, and what you can do to prevent these regurgitated clumps of fur! Cat’s tongues are covered in hundreds of tiny scoop-shaped spines, called papillae, that function like a built-in comb when they groom themselves. It’s normal for cats to ingest their fur while cleaning themselves. The fur typically passes through their digestive system and is eliminated in their stool. Sometimes, however, ingested fur accumulates in the stomach and is regurgitated as one big clump...
Feeding pets real food with active life force ingredients
High quality, biologically available, healthful diets for dogs and cats are the best path to optimal health and longevity. Historically, pet foods were commercially prepared with rendered and rejected meat by-products from the human food industry, sometimes known as the 4 D’s – dead, dying, diseased, or disabled. They also included vitamins, minerals, and low-grade milled grain bits containing a myriad of chemicals, all cooked at excessively high temperatures for sterilization purposes. High carbohydrate ingredients (corn, soy,...
How to support your pet’s gut health when they need antibiotics
A course of antibiotics can upset the balance of your cat or dog’s gut microbiome. Here’s how to support their gut health both during and after antibiotic treatment. Although you can’t see them, trillions of bacteria and other microbes live in and on your cat or dog, and play a critical role in nearly every aspect of their health. Although the vast majority of these microbes are beneficial, sometimes “harmful” ones, called pathogens, can lead to an infection. Your veterinarian will prescribe antibiotics to treat...
How Tui Na can help ease your cat’s arthritis
Tui Na, also known as acupressure-massage, is an effective way to alleviate the discomfort of arthritis in cats. Cats are tricksters. Their wild ancestors evolved not to show weakness or pain lest they fall prey to other predators in the wild. Our domesticated cats have the same “ancestral” mindset, so it can be difficult to assess when they may be suffering from painful conditions such as osteoarthritis. That means it’s up to us as to watch for any subtle signs of arthritis encroaching on our cats’ joints, and to take...
Ayurvedic health for your dog
Incorporating these ancient Ayurvedic principles and techniques into your dog’s lifestyle will help prevent illness while increasing his everyday health and well-being. The oldest tricks in the book are sometimes the best. This is certainly true of the timeless healing science of Ayurveda. This proven and highly effective 5,000-year-old modality can be applied to our dogs with good results. Using some simple and easy-to-apply techniques from the Ayurvedic approach, your dog can enjoy great improvement in his overall health and...
A 15-minute weekly dog grooming routine
Make grooming your pup quick and easy with this 15-minute weekly regimen! Raise your hand if you’ve ever been too busy to groom your dog. We’ve all been there! When you juggle a lot of responsibilities, brushing Fido can slip a little too low on the priority list. But regular grooming is an extremely important part of your dog’s healthcare routine, so skipping it too often isn’t ideal. To make sure your dog stays looking and feeling his best, try working this 15-minute grooming routine into your weekly schedule....
Me-ouch? This webcast explores potentially negative feline language
Are the words we use to describe cats actually doing more harm than good? When you hear “feral cat,” what image comes to mind? More cuddly or sassy? The term “feral” could actually be hampering efforts to gain support for community cat programs. This and other vocabulary we use will be explored in a quick 30-minute Million Cat Challenge webcast, Language That Harms Cats, presented by Monica Frenden-Tarant, Danielle Bays, and Julie Levy. This fast-paced and practical session will be held on August 18, 2021, 12...
Homeopathy for your animal’s dental issues
Discover how homeopathy can help treat dental issues in your canine or feline companion. The health of your dog or cat’s teeth and gums is vital to his quality of life. The pain and discomfort caused by inflamed gums and bad teeth can make him miserable. The good news is that there are many ways to help alleviate dental issues, and protect the health of his teeth and gums. This article focuses on how carefully prescribed, individualized homeopathic remedies can be an effective solution to dental issues. The selection of a homeopathic...
Homeopathic help for your dog or cat’s dental problems
Discover how homeopathy can help treat dental problems in your canine or feline companion. The health of your dog or cat’s teeth and gums is vital to his quality of life. The pain and discomfort caused by inflamed gums and bad teeth can make him miserable. The good news is that there are many ways to help alleviate dental problems, and protect the health of his teeth and gums. This article focuses on how carefully prescribed, individualized homeopathic remedies can be an effective solution to dental problems. The selection of a...
