Pets are a part of the family and it is every pet owner’s responsibility to make sure that their pets are well cared for by making sure that they stay healthy and disease free. It is not enough to make sure that your pet gets enough food and exercise but helping to keep them healthy and free from diseases also plays an important part in the role of every pet owner. The topic of safe vaccinations and medications arises when we consider healthcare for our pets. Nowadays pet meds are available online and are actually much cheaper than the meds that you would buy in a store or at a veterinarian’s clinic. But this puts more pressure on the pet owners as they need to ensure that the pet meds bought online are effective and safe. The costs of medicine have been climbing up lately. This is because there are more new and improved meds out in the market, which takes the level of therapeutic and diagnostic treatments ahead. Another reason that pet meds have seen an increase in price is due to the emphasis of preventive care especially when it comes to the control of fleas, ticks, and heartworms in both cats and dogs.

Cat ownership comes with many perks. When it comes to lavishing your feline with affection more is always better. However, when it comes to treating your cat, too much can have an adverse effect on their health. According to veterinary experts, treats should only make up a mere 10% of your feline’s diet. Whereas the remainder should encompass a healthy, protein-rich cat food. Too many cat treats can result in overweight kitties with arthritis, diabetes, or kidney issues. Below, you will discover some valuable tips to keep your pet happy and healthy for years to come: 1. Feline obesity Is your cat overweight? Pet owners report this is their greatest concern. Cats are natural carnivores, which means they require a high protein, high moisture, nutritious cat food to help them maintain a healthy weight. Average healthy weight for most kitties is under 12-pounds. Of course, this also depends on breed and age. 2. Portion control Treating your kitty in moderation matters and while using treats to reward good behavior can be useful, over treating cats can lead to feline diabetes, urinary blockages, joint stress and arthritis. Excess weight also increases pressure on organs, affecting their heart and lungs, and shortening your cat’s life.

Feeding your dog healthy food is appropriate for them, depending on their age, size, and breed can be a smooth shopping trip. If you know what different types of food are on the market and what they have to offer as far as being healthy for your dog, shopping for the right type of healthy dog food can be simple. Dogs have different types of health needs. Looking for the right kind of food that is right for them is a necessary part of keeping your dog healthy. Depending on your dog’s size, weight, and activity levels, there is an appropriate serving amount to give them during feeding time. Here are a few healthy tips to feed your dog by: 1. Allergies in dogs When dogs have food allergies, oftentimes, the problem lies within the protein inside the food. The protein sets off an adverse immune response that causes cells to release chemical compounds that cause allergic reactions. Most allergens in dog food come from the most common foods. These food allergens are most commonly found in beef and chicken as well as more common supplements in dog food. To avoid buying allergens in your dog’s food, look out for gelatin, additives, chemicals, preservatives, or other artificial flavorings.

Parasites are insects that live on another creature and is dependent upon that creature for survival. The most common parasite found on dogs and cats are fleas. While often annoying, fleas are quite common among household pets and can be easily repelled or removed. Rather than spend money on store bought products that may contain chemicals that could be harmful to your pets and family, consider some alternative and more natural remedies that can help to control a flea infestation: 1. Grab the dish detergent This do-it-yourself flea trap can be quickly and easily put together to help control a flea problem. Simply combine some dish soap with some warm water and place the mixture in a bowl. Then, place the bowl in an area of the house where you feel the most flea activity is occurring and leave overnight. The solutions attracts fleas and traps them within the bowl. Then, simply clean the bowl and repeat the process as necessary. In addition, dish soap can also be used in DIY flea baths for your dog or cat to help control flea problems. 2. Common household flea deterrents There are a few flea control methods that can easily be created by rummaging through your kitchen cabinets or pantry.

Many are aware of diabetes in humans, but few know the number of cats suffering from this disease. Diabetes mellitus, or producing an insufficient amount of insulin to balance glucose levels, affects roughly 2 percent of all cats. Certain factors, such as obesity, certain medications, and pancreatitis can cause diabetes to develop over time in felines. For parents of these fuzzy pets, there are several healthy lifestyle changes that go a long way in preventing diabetes or managing diabetes in cats: 1. Clean up your cat’s diet A healthy, balanced diet is a very necessary component for combating feline diabetes mellitus. While some breeds are predisposed to the disease, obesity is a large contributing factor to developing type 2 diabetes, which is most common among feline patients. Changing your cat’s diet to high protein meals while lowering carbohydrates will help stabilize blood sugar levels. Carbohydrates, found mostly in dry cat food, are responsible for the blood-level spikes and increase diabetes diagnosis probability. Canned foods, both store bought and over-the-counter, usually have lower carbohydrate levels and also help with portion control. Feeding consistency is also important for regulating blood sugar levels. Feeding cats on set schedule, especially if on insulin, will guarantee better results.

Traveling with pets can be exhausting. If you don’t make life as comfortable as possible for the both of you during travel, travel can be tough, resulting in behavioral issues and accidents along the way. That’s why veterinarians and pet professionals recommend planning ahead. If you plan to bring your dog or cat on vacation you will need to bring a variety of pet essentials and safety items along on your trip. Here’s a list of pet-friendly travel tips to ensure a smooth trip: 1. Assemble a pet travel kit A pet travel kit is the perfect way for any pet in the car. Bring anything they’ll need on the trip. Make sure to pack extra food, water, a leash, a bowl, plastic bags, and any grooming items. Also take medication or any first aid items that the animal might need, just like people, you never know when you’ll need them. If they have special toys, pack those so they know there’s lots of fun ahead. You can also stache some treats in your travel kit. Everyone loves a good treat while traveling! 2. Secure your pet Pets should be treated like people in the car. This means they need to be properly secured.

Many pet owners may not think it is a big deal to feed their dog’s human foods, however, there are many risks involved with this. Feeding your dog human food can lead to pet obesity, allergies, and dog toxicity. Many human foods are dangerous for your dogs and if you do not do proper research you could really harm your dog, both in the long term and short term. Here are some of the main foods that you should avoid feeding to your dogs because they could be toxic: 1. Onions and garlic Dogs cannot have onions or garlic no matter how they are prepared. Feeding your dog raw or even cooked onions and garlic could cause them to get severe allergies and may even cause death. Many people may use these species on their foods and then try to feed the food to their dogs without understanding the potential harm they can have. 2. Avocado Avocados contain an ingredient called persin, which is often toxic for many animals, especially dogs. You should always avoid feeding avocado to your dog because of the potentially life-threatening risks they pose to them. 3. Caffeinated beverages While it may seem like a no brainer to not feed your dog a caffeinated beverage many people have done this in the past and caused severe health problems for their dogs.

Being a pet owner comes with many great benefits and an endless amount of love from your furry friend. However, one of the downsides of having pets can be all of the different pests that can find their way onto your loving fur animal and into your home. Pests, such as fleas and ticks, are known to carry harmful illnesses for your dog and cats. Protecting your pets does not have to mean dosing them each month with heavy flea and tick treatments. There are several natural tick remedies for pets that are just as effective and again, completely natural which is great for the animal and environment. Below are just a few of the natural plant-based pet flea treatments that are proven to assist in protecting your furry friends during peak pest months: 1. Rosemary This is a great natural option in order to prevent fleas and ticks getting onto your pets. Rosemary carries such a strong scent and is proven to kill and or repel around 98 to 100% of fleas, ticks, and other pests that may pester your furry family friend. 2. Catnip This natural plant is not only used to enhance the lives of your cat through rolling and playing.