The unlikely history of commercial pet food
Submission Guidelines Thank you for your interest in writing for Animal Wellness. As the #1 natural health magazine for pets in North America, we take pride in providing our readers with the information they need to make wise health care choices for their animal companions. Our publication embraces the entire holistic spectrum, from physical health issues to the emotional and spiritual well being of our animals. We welcome unsolicited articles and story outlines as long as they focus on holistic healing, whether physical, emotional or...
How to identify your animal welfare organization’s brand
When you think of the term brand, big companies like Coca-Cola, Apple or Google might come to mind. But brands aren’t just reserved for huge corporations. Many are surprised to hear that we all have our own brands, as do the organizations we work for. Do you know what your organization’s brand is? If you do, that’s great! You’ll want to make sure you’re conveying your brand in all of your communications with your audience. If you don’t know your organizations’ brand, have no fear! A brand is simply a...
Small Gardens Provide Big Benefits for Bees, Study Finds
Pollinators help produce nearly 80% of the crops grown throughout the world, including almost all of the fruit and grain crops in the United States. They also contribute to cleaner air, water, and soil. Unfortunately, with pollinators facing threats including habitat loss and pesticides, their important work is at risk. However, a new study finds that your small garden may be of some help. Researchers at the University of Bristol investigated the nectar content in more than 50 urban gardens to better understand how they serve as a food source...
Veteran Police Dog Given Heroes’ Farewell Before Crossing The Rainbow Bridge
K-9 Grimm, a veteran police dog, has helped keep Boston safe throughout his ten years on the force. According to Boston.com, these efforts included scouring the city for explosives following the Boston Marathon Bombing and the resulting stand-off with suspects. The loyal dog also found missing people, detected drugs, and kept dangerous criminals off the streets. Photo: Facebook/Andover MA Police Department But despite years of always getting the bad guys, K-9 Grimm finally encountered an obstacle he couldn’t beat. According to the...
Top 5 Best Puppy Training Products
Do you have a new four-legged addition to your family? Congratulations! The training your puppy gets during its first year sets the foundation for the rest of its life, so you want to ensure that you’ve got everything you need to help them succeed. We’ve put together a list of the top five training products you’ll want to have for your puppy training journey. A selection of high-quality treats When training your puppy, you want to focus on rewarding your dog for performing the desired behavior – not punishing the...
‘Weird, Awkward’ Dog Dumped at Shelter Finds New Home
This story was originally shared on The Animal Rescue Site. Submit your own rescue story here. Your story just might be the next to be featured on our blog! I like to look at Petfinder sometimes, just for fun. One day, I was sitting in a boring college class, and I came across his little face. He was listed as a pekingese, but he’s actually a Japanese Chin, and his name was Lawrence. He was scheduled to be euthanized due to mange. DOG. PHOTO: PIXABAY / DEJANZKI There was just something about his little face, the way he stared so...
Dog Escapes From San Diego Apartment Fire Unharmed – A Real Life Miracle
Miracles happen every day and if you need proof keep reading. Last Friday Jarrett Gautt was heading out to dinner with his family, so he fed his dog Brownie, a 3-year-old border collie mix, and locked the door to his San Diego apartment. He returned to find his ground-floor apartment engulfed in flames. Screenshot: YouTube/ABC 10 News His only thought was he had to save Brownie. Gautt grabbed the fire extinguisher and rushed into his apartment to find his dog, but the flames and smoke were too intense and he had to turn around. “Almost...
Detroit Dog Rescue Plans To Play “Golden Girls” Theme Song Every Time A Dog Is Adopted As A Tribute To Betty White
The first no-kill dog shelter in Detroit is in the process of building a new shelter and plans to honor the late Betty White in more than one way. Detroit Dog Rescue (DDR) thanked their generous followers for participating in the #BettyWhiteChallenge and helping them raise over $10,000 on the animal advocate’s 100th birthday. The shelter posted, “As promised we will be naming, not just our adoption room, but our entire adoption hallway after the legendary Betty White! Our new Detroit Dog Rescue (opening this spring) will be home...
2,000 Hamsters To Be Killed After COVID Outbreak In Hong Kong Pet Shop
Authorities in Hong Kong are planning to kill off as many as 2,000 hamsters and other small mammals due to an outbreak of COVID linked to a pet shop employee. According to the BBC, health officials tested hundreds of animals at the pet shop. Only 11 hamsters at the Little Boss pet shop tested positive, but Hong Kong’s “zero Covid” strategy requires culling any potentially infected animal where there is possibility of animal-to-human Covid transmission. That means animals like rabbits and chinchillas will be culled, despite...
Pet diarrhea: how to help your dog or cat
A look at what might be causing diarrhea in your pet, and what you can do to settle her upset tummy! It can be worrisome when your cat or dog has a loose or watery stool. While occasional diarrhea is a completely normal reaction for purging something bad, anything occurring for more than 48 hours or on a regular basis may signal an underlying health problem. Here are common causes of diarrhea in pets, and some advice on how to help them and when to call your veterinarian. It was something they ate A new diet can trigger diarrhea if the...
Make training your dog easier with these “brain foods”!
How well your dog can be trained depends not only on the methods and cues you use, but also on how easily he can learn and pick things up. These “brain foods” and supplements support his cognition to help make training more successful. Successfully training your dog means using reward-based methods and clear, consistent cues. Nutrition also plays a role in supporting your dog’s cognition, memory, and mood to help him learn more easily. Let’s talk about some “brain foods” and supplements that boost your...
Lead Ammunition is Stunting Bald Eagle Recovery in the Northeast
Bald eagles have come a long way in the past several decades. In fact, their population has more than quadrupled in the lower 48 since 2009. However, a new study finds that there’s a lingering threat that continues to hamper their recovery: lead ammunition. Researchers from Cornell University theorized that lead poisoning was impacting species recovery in the Northeast, and they set out to see if that was true. Their findings, published in the Journal of Wildlife Management, seemed to confirm their suspicions. The data showed that...
Strangers Rally To Help Couple Whose Dog Ran Away While They Were On Vacation
A Michigan couple was vacationing in Florida when they got some devasting news. Their dog, Blue, had escaped from their dog sitter’s house and gone missing. Now the married couple–who do anything for their dog–was desperately worried, unable to help, and over 1,000 miles away. “We were relaxing on the beach, and we got a missed call and a text saying call us urgent,” Ryan Skornicka told Wood 8 TV. “Blue went on a little adventure and ran away.” Photo: Pixabay Unsure of what else to do, Blue’s...
Woman Works for Months to Save Dog Living By the Freeway
This story was originally shared on The Animal Rescue Site. Submit your own rescue story here. Your story just might be the next to be featured on our blog! In 2008 while I was heading to work, I passed a business center and saw a small rat terrier attempting to tear into a discarded food bag. I pulled into the lot and the dog took off! I followed in my car as she ran the perimeter of the parking lot. She dashed under a fence and was now literally on the berm of the freeway, where she lived. DOG. PHOTO: PIXABAY / ANNAPOWA I contacted a rescue...
Senior Cat Named Rose Nylund Finds Forever Home Days Before Betty White’s 100th Birthday
People across the country honored the late Betty White by donating to their local shelters in her name on her 100th birthday. Maui Humane Society participated in the #BettyWhiteChallenge and as a bonus one of their longtime cat residents found a loving home. Screenshot: YouTube/petangopets The senior gray tabby cat named Rose Nylund, after Betty White’s Golden Girls character, spent over 100 days in the shelter waiting for someone to choose her. A video of the friendly cat was shared on YouTube with the caption, “While my...
Chonky Shelter Cat With Lots Of Love To Give Seeking Someone To Give Him A Home
Mister is a 30-pound shelter cat with lots of love to give. According to Mister’s caretakers at the Michigan Humane, the chonky cat’s hefty size is only matched by his large and loving personality. “He’s full of love and I think he’s just the sweetest senior boy I think I’ve ever met,” a shelter employee told Fox 2 Detroit. Photo: YouTube/Fox 2 Detroit “He’s going to be the cat that’s going to want to curl up next to you and watch movies all day,” the worker gushed about the...
60 Million Icefish Nests Discovered Near Antarctica
Antarctica’s southern Weddell Sea is the place to find a mate, if you’re a icefish. A group of scientists recently discovered about 60 million icefish nests in the seafloor. As Live Science reports, Autun Purser of the Alfred Wegener Institute and his team of researchers on the RV Polarstern were monitoring the area for marine life when graduate student Lilian Böhringer called up to the bridge. She had been keeping a close eye on the video feed of the seafloor of the Weddell Sea, taken from the Ocean Floor Observation and...
Immune support supplements for your dog or cat
A stressed or overworked immune system can result in a number of preventable health issues. To keep your dog or cat in good health, immune support supplements in addition to a balanced, wholefoods diet may be the answer. Immune system health is as important for our dogs and cats as it is for us. Nowadays, as the number of cheap, low-quality pet foods continue to line shelves and make their way into the homes of pet parents, it’s more important than ever to develop a toolkit of immune support supplements to keep on hand. In addition to...
Could intralesional chemotherapy be an option for your dog or cat?
Because it directly targets tumors while bypassing systemic circulation, intralesional chemotherapy produces fewer side effects in dogs and cats than traditional chemo. Find out if this innovative cancer treatment might be right for your own animal. Every year, I treat many dogs and cats with cancer. I’m happy to be able to offer a holistic approach for these animals, most of whom will not benefit from chemotherapy, but will benefit from detoxification and immune support. Sometimes traditional chemotherapy is helpful for selected...
Spring online apprenticeships are on their way!
Put a little spring in your step with one of these seven online apprenticeships from Maddie’s Fund®. Learn the ins and outs of ringworm, marketing basics, lost pet reunification and more. Each apprenticeship is four weeks long and is made up of a combination of self-paced learning and four 90-minute weekly Zoom meetings with your instructor. Read on to learn more about the apprenticeships and mark your calendar for the January 24-28 application window. Seats are limited, so don’t miss out! Feline...
