Pet food labels contain a lot of information, if you know how to read them.
The Association of American Feed Control Officers (AAFCO) has its own set of regulations regarding pet food labels, which many states use. AAFCO labeling guidelines cover aspects such as product naming standards, guaranteed analysis (minimum percentages of protein and fat, and maximum percentages of fiber and moisture), and nutritional adequacy.
Porcupines, spiders and snakes — oh my!
There’s nothing better than taking off with your dog during these dog days of summer. It’s a beautiful day, so you head out with your best bud Buster for a hike. Water — check. First-aid kit — check. Water bowl for Buster — check. Snacks for you both — check. AAHA-accredited hospital in your contacts list — huh?
Is your cat grooming half of her hair off, or is your dog licking his paws raw? It may well be that your pet is experiencing allergies, one of the most common health problems for pets. Just like people, animals have allergic reactions because their immune system — the system that protects the body from foreign and potentially infectious substances — overreacts to some material. Almost anything — pollen, dust, an ingredient in pet food, a household chemical, an insect bite — can set off an alarm in the immune system, causing it to pump out large amounts of white blood cells, hormones and other material called histamines into the bloodstream.
I’d heard about people utilizing alternative healing methods to help their pets — doggy massages, doggy yoga — but doggy acupuncture? It wasn’t something I’d ever considered for my dogs.
Benjamin Hart, DVM, PhD, who has studied animal behavior for almost 50 years, says that one of the questions he hears most frequently from pet owners is: “Why does my dog eat grass?”
It’s finally summer, but can all of the pretty flowers in bloom spell trouble for you and your kitty? Make sure to check all fresh and garden flowers to make sure that they are not dangerous — or deadly — for your pets.