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Choosing the right dry food for your dog

Tue, 25 Aug 2020 12:57:57 GMT

Your choice of dog food is key to keeping your dog healthy and happy. Here are some of our top tips for good canine nutrition.

A balanced diet is critically important to your dog’s cell maintenance and growth and overall health. Barring any special needs, illness-related deficiencies, or instructions from your vet, your pet should be able to get all the nutrients he or she needs from high-quality commercial pet foods, which are specially formulated with these standards in mind.

But dogs of different ages have different nutritional requirements. So, how much—or how little—should you be feeding your four-legged friend? Read on to learn what your pet’s body needs at the various stages of life.

Nutrients Your Dog Needs
Nutrients are substances obtained from food and used by an animal as a source of energy and as part of the metabolic machinery necessary for maintenance and growth. There are the six essential classes of nutrients dogs need for optimum healthy living.
Don’t forget to check in and see how you’re doing. Just because you don’t achieve the big goals right away doesn’t mean you’re not making progress.

Water
Essential to life, water accounts for between 60 to 70% of an adult pet’s body weight. While food may help meet some of your pet's water needs (dry food has up to 10% moisture, while canned food has up to 78% moisture), pets must have fresh clean water available to them at all times. A deficiency of water may have serious repercussions for pets. A 10% decrease in body water can cause serious illness, while a 15% loss can result in death.

Proteins
Proteins are the basic building blocks for cells, tissues, organs, enzymes, hormones and antibodies, and are essential for growth, maintenance, reproduction and repair. Proteins can be obtained from a number of sources including animal-based meats such as chicken, lamb, turkey, beef, fish and eggs (which have complete amino acid profiles) and in vegetables, cereals and soy (but these are considered incomplete proteins).

Please note: Do not give your pet raw eggs. Raw egg white contains avidin, an anti-vitamin that interferes with the metabolism of fats, glucose, amino acids and energy.

Fats
Fats are the most concentrated form of food energy, providing your pet with more than twice the energy of proteins or carbohydrates. Fats are essential in the structure of cells, needed for the production of some hormones, and are required for absorption and utilization of certain vitamins. Fats also provide insulation and protection for internal organs. A deficiency of essential fatty acids (such as linoleic acid) may result in reduced growth or increased skin problems.

Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates provide energy, play a vital role in the health of the intestine, and are important for reproduction. While there is no minimum carbohydrate requirement, there is a minimum glucose requirement necessary to supply energy to critical organs such as the brain.

Fibers are kinds of carbohydrates that alter the bacterial population in the small intestine, which can help manage chronic diarrhea in dogs. For dogs to obtain the most benefit from fiber, the fiber source must be moderately fermentable. Moderately fermentable fibers—including beet pulp, which is commonly used in dog foods—are best to promote a healthy gut while avoiding the undesirable side effects of highly fermentable fibers, like flatulence and excess mucus.

Other examples of moderately fermentable fibers include brans (corn, rice and wheat) and wheat middlings. Foods that are high in fiber are not good for dogs with high energy requirements, and who are young and growing.

Vitamins
Tiny amounts of vitamins are necessary in dogs for normal metabolic functioning. Most vitamins cannot be synthesized in the body, and therefore are essential to obtain in the diet.

Please note that when feeding your dog a complete and balanced diet, it is unnecessary to give a vitamin supplement unless a specific vitamin deficiency is diagnosed by a veterinarian. Due to over supplementation, poisoning due to excess vitamins (hypervitaminosis) is more common these days than vitamin deficiency (hypovitaminosis). Excess vitamin A may result in bone and joint pain, brittle bones and dry skin. Excess vitamin D may result in very dense bones, soft tissue calcification and kidney failure.

Minerals
Minerals are nutrients that cannot be synthesized by animals and must be provided in the diet. In general, minerals are most important as structural constituents of bones and teeth, for maintaining fluid balance and for their involvement in many metabolic reactions.

"A balanced diet is critically important to your dog’s cell maintenance and growth and overall health"

Feeding Your Adult Dog

Adult dogs require sufficient nutrients to meet energy needs and to maintain and repair body tissues. The amount you feed your adult dog should be based on his or her size and energy output. Activity levels may vary dramatically between pets, and will play an important role in determining caloric intake.

How Much to Feed Your Dog
The amount you feed your adult dog should be based on his or her size and energy output. For example, an animal with a normal activity level should receive what we call “maintenance” energy. A pampered lap dog may require just 10% of that, while an active pet who exercises regularly outdoors may require maintenance plus 20 to 40%.

You may need to adjust portions as you learn your dog’s ideal “maintenance” amount. Pet owners should always consult with their dog’s veterinarian to determine the best feeding schedule and types of foods for their pets.

Outside factors, like the temperature, can contribute to how much your dog should eat. Since keeping warm and cool require extra energy expenditure, extreme hot or cold weather can also increase a dog’s energy needs. Talk to your pet’s veterinarian about what to do when the mercury dips or soars.

Feeding Working Canines
A dog’s energy needs will increase with his or her work and stress level, and the dietary needs of working canines—such as police dogs, guide dogs and cattle dogs—will depend on their occupations. A dog with a moderate work load may require an energy increase of 40% compared to maintenance, whereas a dog with a high work load may require an extra 50 to 70%.

Feeding Your Dog as He Recovers from Surgery
An animal recovering from surgery or suffering from a disease may have an increased nutritional requirement for repair, healing and fighting infection. Be sure to check with your veterinarian on your pet’s post-opt nutritional needs.

Limiting Treats
Treats should be given in moderation and represent five percent or less of the dog’s daily food intake. The rest should come from a nutritionally compete dog food. When using treats as motivation, such as during training exercises, use the smallest pieces you can.

Setting a Feeding Schedule
We recommend all dogs be fed twice daily. Simply divide the amount of food your pet requires into two meals, spaced eight to twelve hours apart. Dogs may be fed in a number of ways that meet both the owner’s and the animal’s needs. These methods include portion-control, free-choice and timed feeding.

Portion-control feeding refers to controlling the amount of food that your pet consumes by measuring your pet’s food and providing it in one or meals daily. This method is often used for weight control programs and for animals that might overeat if fed free-choice.
Free-choice feeding allows food to be available to your pet at all times, as much as your pet wants, and whenever he or she wants it. This method is best when feeding dry food, which will not spoil when left out. Most nursing mothers are often free-choice fed, but some dogs will overeat when fed in this manner, resulting in obesity.
Timed feeding involves making a portion of food available for your pet to eat for a specific period of time. For example, food can be placed in the dog’s bowl for 30 minutes. After that time, if the pet has not consumed the food, it is removed.

Overweight Dogs
One of the most common pitfalls dog parents should watch out for is overfeeding. Attempts to shower our dogs with love by means of big meals and lots of tasty treats are sweet, but misguided. In dogs, as with humans, extra weight can lead to health problems. Be sure to indulge your four-legged friend with affection, not food!

Causes of Obesity in Dogs
Obesity is an extremely common problem in pets and, as with humans, it can be detrimental to the health of a dog. The overweight pet has many added stresses upon his body and is at an increased risk of diabetes, liver problems and joint pain.

Obesity develops when energy intake exceeds energy requirements. This excess energy is then stored as fat. The majority of cases of obesity are related to simple overfeeding coupled with lack of exercise. Certain groups of dogs appear to be more prone to obesity than others. Specific breeds, such as Labrador retrievers and pugs, and older dogs are particularly susceptible.

How to Tell if Your Pet is Overweight
There are a few ways easy ways to identify whether your pet has put on the pounds. You should be able to feel the backbone and touch the ribs in an animal of healthy weight. If you cannot feel your pet’s ribs without pressing, there is too much fat.

Also, you should see a noticeable waist between the back of the rib cage and the hips when looking at your pet from above. When viewed from the side, there should be a “tuck” in the tummy, meaning the abdomen should go up from the bottom of the rib cage to inside the thighs. Dogs who fail these simple tests may be overweight.

How to Help Manage Your Dog’s Weight
We have a few tips that can help your pet shed the extra padding. Please note, if your pup has put on weight, we recommend that you consult your pet’s vet before starting on a weight loss program.

Correct your pet’s diet. Overweight animals consume more calories than they require. Work with your veterinarian to select a more suitable food and determine your pet’s caloric requirements. The diet should contain a normal level of a moderately fermentable fiber and fat to prevent the skin and coat from suffering during weight loss.
Increase regular exercise. Increasing physical activity can be valuable to both weight loss and weight maintenance. Regular exercise burns more calories, reduces appetite, changes body composition and will increase your pet’s resting metabolic rate.
Modify your behavior. A successful weight management program means making changes in your behaviors that have contributed to your pet’s weight. For example, you may be giving your pet too many treats or not giving her enough opportunities to exercise.

Here are some ways you can commit to your pet’s weight loss:

Remove your pet from the room when the family eats
Feed your pet several small meals throughout the day
Reduce snacks and treats, and feed all meals and treats in your pet’s bowl only
Provide non-food related attention with lots of affection

Dog Care on a Budget

Mon, 24 Aug 2020 11:51:42 GMT

Living on a budget doesn't need to mean comprising on your pet's quality of life. There are many ways to keep your pet healthy without breaking the bank.

Owning or adopting a dog can be expensive under any circumstances. Between the price of food, medical expenses, pet paraphernalia, training, and boarding, monthly budgets can shoot skyward with the addition of a four-legged friend to the household.

But even in times of economic uncertainty, you can find ways to care for your loyal companion without breaking the bank! Let these 11 tips serve as a checklist for ways to save.

Medical expenses – If money becomes scarce, unexpected medical issues can present quite a problem. But just as you might take out an insurance plan for yourself or other family members, pet health insurance can help you carefully budget ahead of time the money that will go toward day-to-day healthcare, as well as any unforeseen problems that might arise in the future.

Grooming – If you don’t already have a groomer you trust, consider checking local shelters or youth programs that may hold “Pet Washes” as fundraisers. And when push comes to shove, a bath at home followed by a towel dry and gentle brushing can be a wonderful way to show your dog affection after a long walk!

Low-income dog licenses – Some areas offer low-income families a leg-up on the fees involved in licensing their family pet in order to encourage them to register with the city. By filling out a few simple forms, you could be eligible to receive a discounted license for as little as $6!

Vaccinations – For vaccines that need to be administered annually, such as those for rabies, see if any of your local animal shelters offer clinics where those vaccines might be offered for less than they would otherwise.

Spay/Neuter services – In an effort to curb the overpopulation of pets, many organizations offer professional spay/neuter services absolutely free for families that cannot afford the procedure.

Food – Be consistent in the portions you give to your dog and never give in to begging for extra meals or dinner table scraps. Overfeeding will burn through your stores of food faster, and a dog that’s overeating is at a greater health risk than one on a balanced diet.

Dental care – You don’t have to spend much to keep your dog’s choppers pearly and white! Prevention is key. Consult your vet to determine the method of DIY teeth cleaning that best suits your dog.

Clip coupons! – Coupons are available in your local Sunday supplements for just about everything you could want, including dog food and even toys. And newsletters for dog lovers (ours included!) occasionally run promotions for products in the form of exclusive coupons.

Join the club! – The Australian Kennel Club (AKC) has a list of the National Clubs for many pure breeds of dog. Many of those clubs offer financial assistance programs to owners of those dogs.

Get ID – According to MSNBC, recent recessions have spurred a rise in pet theft. Purebred and designer dogs are at higher risk, but no matter what kind of dog you have, make sure he doesn’t go missing by always keeping ID tags on, and microchipping.

Have a heart-to-heart with your vet – Ask the staff in your vet’s office about what financial aid programs, discounts, or deals are available in your area for people with your specific needs. It’s a safe bet that they will have some ideas for you – they’ve been down this road many, many times!

Jessica M

Customer Service

“Dogs are my best friends, my confidants, my inspiration. I can't imagine starting my day with a snuggle from my dog Charlie."

"What could be more rewarding than the love of a dog. In my experience, it's the most wonderful feeling in the world."

Top tips for travelling with your dog

Mon, 24 Aug 2020 11:51:42 GMT

Planning a holiday or trip with your dog or cat? Here’s what to pack, where to go, and how to protect your pet.

Everyone needs a break, including our dogs and cats. These tips will help you and your family enjoy a safe, happy and relaxing holiday with your pets along to share in the fun.

Prepare before you go

Preparation is the key to ensuring the success of any holiday, so make sure your pet is up to date on all vaccinations, worming and parasite control before you depart.

If you’re travelling north or to a hot and humid location, trim your pet’s hair to help keep your pet cool and make it easier to find ticks. If you’re planning to camp, be prepared for destinations with potential risks like snakes and paralysis ticks.

Tags and microchips will help identify your pet in case your dog or cat gets lost. Make sure your contact details registered for your pet’s microchip are correct so you can easily be contacted if your pet goes missing.

What to pack for your pet

At a minimum, you’ll need the following pet supplies for your trip:

Food
Portable or foldable food and water bowls
Leads
A favourite toy or two
Kitty litter if you’re travelling with your cat
Droppings disposal bags if you’re travelling with your dog
Bedding
Collars
Parasite protection (consider the parasites that may be found at your destination which may differ from your home) and any other regular medications your pet takes

Order enough medication ahead of time, and pack a pet first-aid kit including diluted antiseptic (betadine) and clean bandages. Find out the local vet’s contact details in the place you’re travelling to in case of emergency.

Make sure your destination and activities will be pet friendly

Many holiday destinations accommodate cats and dogs – but not all do. Be sure to find pet-friendly accommodation, and check for pet restrictions at the beaches, parks and popular attractions you plan to visit.

If you’re on the fence about bringing your dog or cat on holiday, think first about the type of activities you plan to do, and whether your pet will be able to participate at all. If your trip itinerary is packed with shopping, dining, visiting museums or seeing shows or other attractions, your dog or cat might not benefit from coming with you. However, if your trip involves plenty of outdoor time on the beach or in a park, or if you and your family plan to stick close to your hotel or rental during most of the holiday, your pet will likely enjoy the trip more.

Special considerations for travelling north

The warmth and humidity of Queensland, Northern Territory, north-west Australia and the east coast of New South Wales pose a higher parasite risk for pets. Paralysis ticks, heartworm, hookworm, fleas, mosquitoes and sandflies are more prevalent the farther north you go.

While your pets may have never suffered from parasites or ticks at home, this may not be the case in your holiday destination. A new environment can present new health challenges.

To protect your pets and enjoy a parasite- and tick-free holiday, we recommend taking the following steps:

Administer a parasite preventative treatment, such as Seresto ^® for Dogs , which fights ticks, fleas, and vector-borne diseases, and Advantage ^® for Cats , which combats flea infestations.
Take particular care when bush-walking and visiting the beach with your dog.
Perform daily tick checks (as well as using a tick control product) – run your fingers through your pet’s coat over their skin, feeling for abnormal bumps. Pay particular attention to the head and neck, chest, between their toes and around their mouths and gums.
If you do notice a tick, remove it immediately and continue looking for more – keep it for identification by a vet. See our guide for removing a tick from yo ur dog or cat .
If you find a tick on your pet, contact the local vet immediately, particularly if your pet is showing signs of tick toxicity like changes to the sound of the bark or meow, weakness in the legs, excessive panting or vomiting.

Getting to your destination

Regardless of your destination, you’ll need to figure out transportation options for you, your family and your cat or dog. Each mode of transport comes with its own considerations and precautions.

Travelling safely with your pet by car

The best way to transport pets by car is in a specially designed carrier or cage, which should have good ventilation, plenty of room to move about and a secure door. Dogs can also be restrained and protected with a safety harness that attaches them to a seat belt. Above all, never leave dogs or cats loose inside a moving vehicle. Loose pets can cause an accident and be badly injured.

For longer journeys, here are some hints to ensure a pleasant, stress-free trip:

Don’t feed your pet just before they travel in the car.
Stop every two to three hours to allow your dog to relieve itself, exercise and get some fresh air.
Sunburn can be a danger, so apply a pet-friendly UV cream daily, and use a window blind or towel to shield your pet from the sun while they’re in the car.

Leaving your dog or cat for fewer than six minutes in an unventilated car can kill them. Even with windows left open, the temperature inside a car quickly rises, and heat exhaustion and death become real dangers. Never leave your pet unattended in a hot car, and always take a water container to quench your pet's thirst and prevent dehydration.

Travelling safely with your pet by plane

Check with your airline for pet travel instructions and restrictions they may have. You’ll need to have your pet thoroughly examined, wormed and vaccinated by a vet before being approved for air travel. Your airline will be able to give you guidelines on the size and weight limitations of your animal carrier.

In the air, dogs and cats usually go in the cargo hold. However, assistance and seeing-eye dogs are allowed in the cabin. Just keep in mind that airlines may limit the number of pets they allow on a flight or refuse to handle animals that show excessive aggressive behaviour.

As a rule, pets can do very well travelling by air. However if your cat or dog shows signs of distress after a flight, see the vet you’ve located at your destination. Better yet, if you have concerns about how your pet will tolerate air travel, talk with your veterinarian in advance. They will be able to recommend preflight preparations or anti-anxiety medication if you think your pet may need it.

With a little advance preparation, you can ensure a safe, entertaining and relaxing holiday with your family and your pet, regardless of where you decide to go or how you get there.