Quality Dog Food

Choosing the right dog food plays an important role in keeping your dog healthy and fit. Feeding the best quality dog food promotes health and increases the lifespan of your dog. It has been found that dogs fed on high quality foods, are energetic and have a shiny coat.

Dog food analysis helps us know the different ingredients used in making dog food. After examining the ingredients, a veterinarian can analyze whether the food is of good quality. Dog food analysis is used to ensure that the food meets the nutritional requirements of the dog.

There are certain factors that need to be considered before choosing a dog food. For instance, underweight or overweight dogs have different nutritional needs. Dogs with a higher activity level need more nutrition-dense foods. Dog food available in the market are classified into 3 main types. They are 'grocery store' foods, premium foods, and healthy foods.

Grocery store foods is the cheapest option to feed your dog. Although these foods may be pocket friendly, they contain ingredients which are not easily digested. They are blended with additives and chemicals that are responsible for causing diseases like cancer. These foods fail to provide the nutrition required for the proper growth of your dog.

Quality control standards are very low in these foods. As a result, in some cases, poisonous substances such as plastic, are detected in the analysis. On the other hand, premium foods provide high quality ingredients, but still contain certain elements such as chemical preservatives, artificial flavors and colors that can be harmful to your dog's health.

Premium foods are much more costly than 'grocery store' foods, as they contain a higher grade of ingredients that are easily digested and are beneficial for your dog. Premium foods are generally found in veterinary clinics and pet stores.

Healthy dog foods are often recommended by veterinarians as they contain the most nutritious ingredients. Available in any pet food market, these foods are made from the highest quality, nutrition rich foods that provide optimum health benefits for your dog.

These foods are prepared using vegetables, fresh fruits and grains like barley and brown rice that are rich in carbohydrates. Most of these foods do not contain additional colors or preservatives. They contain additional minerals and vitamins that provide a beautiful coat and a healthy skin to your dog. As these foods are fortified with high quality ingredients, they are expensive than other types of dog food. In short, you will have to spend more to get a healthier and a better quality of dog food.

Dog food ingredients are listed on the container labels. When buying healthy food for your pet, check the ingredients list and see if eggs, fish or meat are the first ingredient. In case, they are on the top of the ingredients list, then the food is a rich source of protein and is easily digestible.

Safety Products for your Dog

Keeping your dog safe is similar to keeping a child safe, you need to constantly be on alert. There are certain dangers a dog faces, especially in urban and suburban settings where the risk of running away and getting hit by a car poses a serious threat.


Keeping your pooch protected on your property even when you’re not there to supervise, or keeping your dog from running off and becoming injured when playing around off leash, is reason enough to look for practical solutions. Below are three products that can help you and your companion enjoy some freedom while being safe!

Water Alarm

This product is designed to alert you should your dog enter the pool. Now I’m sure you’re thinking, my dog’s a great swimmer. And I’m sure he is. But the reality is dogs drown in swimming pools, simply because they can’t find the stairs. To keep your pooch safe this summer, look into the Safety Turtle Water Safety Alarm, or a similar product. This particular product works by attaching the Turtle to your pet’s collar: an alarm will sound at a base station in the house the moment he jumps in.

Fencing

There are numerous wireless pet fence manufacturers to choose from: Innotek and Petsafe are 2 very good brands. This form of containment makes it possible for you to create invisible boundaries on your property, so that your dog doesn’t run off. How does it work?

A transmitter (usually housed in the garage or basement) sends a radio signal through a concealed wire buried along the perimeter of the "fenced in" area. Your dog wears a special collar with a receiver that alerts him with a warning tone when he’s approaching the edge of the safe area, followed by a minor shock if he gets too close. Additional training, usually 7 – 14 days, is necessary to assist your dog in understanding and learning the boundaries of the fence.

It is important to note that while invisible fences work well with most dogs, they are not 100 % effective, especially if your dog is older, stubborn and not well trained. If you think this might be the case with your pet and you want to try this product, make sure you are on guard for a reasonable trial period to make sure your dog doesn’t figure out he can ‘jump’ the fence and run off.

You also need to check up on the fence once it is installed to make sure the perimeter wire is in tact, the batteries in your dog’s collar still work and if your dog has a heavy coat, the area where the collar makes contact is shaven. Also, check with the manufacturer about the radio frequency whether is it FM or AM. FM is preferable as AM tends to pick up stray signals that may give your dog a correction even when he is not near the perimeter of the fence.

Another disadvantage to this type of fence is that it does not keep other animals out. For this reason people often use this type of fence in conjunction with a standard fence to keep the dog out of a garden or pool.

Safety Light collars and vests

Safety collars and vests with flashers in general are constructed with reflective fabrics and have a flashing lights attached to them. Some, such asPolyBrite™ collar and leash do more than just reflect light, they generate their own. Both the collar and leash and give off a bright red glow and can also be set to flash.

They use a replaceable watch battery that last up to 250 hours, are light weight, and above all – water resistant. You can also find a range of clip on flashing lights, from the more durable and water proof for larger dogs to something very small and light such as the Pet Blinker. The clip on flashing lights can also be attached to a child’s coat or belt if needed.

Safety vests are a must for the working dog or if you take your dog jogging in poorly lit areas. Also essential for hunting dogs. Besides being constructed of reflective material higher end safety vests generate light and may have a flashing light for added visibility.

Safety precautions are always advisable but should the unexpected happen to your pet another consideration is pet insurance . And remember, these products are not a substitute for training your dog but they will give you another layer of confidence when you're not around to supervise.

Your Kitty Feels Safe At Home

When Jean Wisken wrote to Your Pet to warn others of how easily her daughter's kitten crawled into the washing machine, Janice Holland was prompted to explore what it takes to make our homes "kitty safe".


It was the worst day of my life," says Jean Wisken, of Robina, recalling how her daughter's six-month-old Burmese cat, Sapphire, climbed into the drum of their front loading washing machine.

I placed a few items in the machine then went upstairs to fetch more laundry. By the time we discovered Sapphire was missing, the machine had been working for several minutes.

"The thought of what Sapphire must have endured will haunt me forever, all because I failed to close the door between loading the washing."

Sapphire received immediate vet care and survived her ordeal. But Jean's experience is a pertinent reminder of how careful we need to be around the home when inquisitive kittens are involved.

Kittens can get themselves into all sorts of mischief because they are naturally inquisitive.

"This is so they can learn and grow, it is how they learn the way of the world," says Sharon Tooth, head nurse at Paddington Cat Practice in Brisbane.

"Kittens are a bit like children, they need to be kept in line by their parents. If kittens are not watched by their mothers then they rely on their owners do ensure that their home is safe for them."

So how can we keep kitty out of harm's way?

Safety first

Think safety first. Kittens can easily get underfoot and trodden on, especially after a strenuous play session when they will just fall asleep when the need arises, which could be in the hallway or on stairs. Encourage your kitten to sleep safely in its own bed.

Also keep an eye on where they climb, such as bookcases, fridges and cupboards, as exploring kittens can easily fall and sustain injury. It's probably best to put glass and other fragile items away until your kitten learns the household rules.

Sharon says most kittens will not chew power cords but there is the odd one that will chew almost anything and it is very difficult to stop them.

"Put the cords inside a hose pipe when running them around the house. This makes it more difficult to chew. You could also put some Tabasco sauce on the cord to deter the cat but ensure the cord is not connected to the power source first."

In the kitchen

Cleaning agents should always have secure lids and be kept in cupboards.

"I would also recommend that after using cleaning agents, the area is washed thoroughly. This way a cat cannot come along and lick the area and ingest the residue that can cause erosion to the tongue or throat. If a cat should come into contact with any cleaning agent, phone the vet for advice then get to the vet as soon as possible."

It is hard to watch kittens and cats all the time when you are cooking. Keep them out of the kitchen if possible as they could jump up onto the stove and burn their feet on the hot elements.

Sharon says ensuring hot items are away from the edge of benches and not leaving pots unattended will help.

"If anything should happen, such as your cat pulling a pot of boiling liquid down onto itself, immerse the cat in cold water and get it to the vet as soon as possible."

And be sure to check fridges and freezes before closing them in case any smells have enticed your cat inside.

In the bathroom

Thankfully, most kitties do not like water so will not play in the bathroom, but if a cat should fall into a hot bath, immerse in cold water and take to the vet.

"I know that I have had a kitten fall into the toilet. The tell tale signs were a soaking wet cat and toilet seat, so the kitten had jumped straight out. However, it is probably best to get into the habit of closing the lid after use to avoid your kitten falling in."

In the laundry

Sharon says she is paranoid about closing a washing machine or dryer with a cat in it.

"I always check before I close the door to make sure there is no cat in the machine before I put it on. I sometimes double check exactly where each kitten or cat is before turning the machine on too!"

In the garage

There are some nasty things in the garage and Sharon recommends keeping everything in a secure cupboard, so cats cannot get at any of the poisonous products.

"One thing that is fatal to cats is anti freeze, which is added to car radiators. If this should leak, cats like the taste and once ingested they need to be treated within six hours to stop irreversible kidney damage. The only cure if not treated is a kidney transplant which will cost from $4000 to $8000."

In the garden

There are many indoor and outdoor plants that are dangerous to pets so its best to ensure your cat cannot chew on any part of a plant. Sharon warns that any flower from the lily family is toxic to cats if ingested and will cause fatal kidney failure if not treated quickly.

This can occur even if a cat just mouths any part of the plant. As lilies are popular with florists, be particularly careful if your kitten is moving around a floral arrangement containing lilies.

The outside world

When it comes to exploring the outside world, Sharon provides her "totally inside cats" with access to the outside world with a cat enclosure that is attached to one side of her house.

"This way they can laze out in the sun and also come and go as they please. We live on acreage and so have the added hazard of snakes and ticks. By having the enclosure it keeps away the tick problem and we have not had any snakes in the enclosure."

Keeping windows and doors screened will prevent your kitten from falling or wandering off unattended.

To exercise your kitty and let it explore the big wide world, keep in mind that cat harnesses are available and walking a cat on a lead is becoming popular. (And it will become more popular as more people do it!)

In case of emergency

Sharon says if in any doubt about your cat's health or safety, contact your vet immediately and get advice.

"We are always available to give clients advice no matter how trivial. If a cat is just slightly off it is always better to catch something early so that the cat does not get dehydrated and really sick before the vet's attention is sought. If a kitten or cat has ingested anything toxic, we may be able to save them."

Entertainment

Of course, the best way to keep your kitten entertained and out of mischief is by providing lots of toys, a scratching post and interaction.

"Play with a kitten every day with toys, rolled up paper or a piece of string," Sharon says.

"If you get into the habit of spending quality time with your kitten it will learn to come to you naturally and the activity may even help to keep your cat from getting fat."

Hopefully, these suggestions will help to prevent any accidents around the home such as the "most horrific experience ever" endured by Jean Wisken and Sapphire.

Jean says Sapphire is now as playful and as mischievous as ever, but will always be thought of as their little Aussie battler.

"I pray that she will enjoy a long life despite her terrifying ordeal," Jean says.

And so do all of us.