Learn About a Human Food You Should NEVER Give Your Dog

One of the reasons that Pet Wants food is so good for dogs is we make it with real ingredients that contain all the nutrients these animals need to thrive. While there are plenty of foods that dogs should consume on a daily basis, there are also some foods that they should never, ever eat. Grapes are a prime example of this. Even though grapes and raisins are healthy and tasty treats for humans, they can be deadly to dogs.

How to Successfully Travel With Your Cat

As most cat owners know from firsthand experience, these animals really enjoy being homebodies. One of the ways this manifests itself is cats want to guard their turf against any intruders. Even for cats that spend some of their time outdoors, the radius they stay within is generally less than three miles in size. So when a cat goes out into the world with its owner and ends up in a place it doesn’t know that’s outside of this zone, chances are it’s going to be on the lookout. Expecting retribution for “trespassing” is why cats who are exposed to new environments generally respond by hiding, making noises that indicate being unhappy or attempting to get out of this situation.

While it’s almost guaranteed that cats are going to have a less than enthusiastic reaction to any kind of traveling, this doesn’t have to prevent you from ever taking your cat anywhere with you. If you need or want to travel and plan to bring your cat along, there are definitely some steps you can take to make this process go as smoothly as possible for both of you:

Using the Right Carrier

The first step in successfully traveling with your cat is choosing the right carrier. Even though cats may enjoy cardboard boxes when they’re playing inside their home, using this type of item with holes punched in isn’t the ideal choice for traveling. Since there are many different types of quality carriers available for cats, you will want to think about your cat’s specific personality and then select a carrier that seems like the best fit for it. Some cats prefer being able to keep an eye on things by looking out of a wire carrier, while others prefer the secure feeling that a covered carrier provides.

Basic Travel Tips for Cats

Once you have a carrier for your cat, you’ll want to let it spend some time checking it out prior to actually leaving your home. Giving this type of introduction will make the experience of getting in the carrier and then leaving your home less jarring. For most trips, having a container that will allow you to easily offer your cat water at least once is a good idea. And while you’ll definitely want to pack cat food for your trip, it’s unlikely that your cat will actually want to eat prior to reaching your destination.

When you travel with your cat for the first time, you may be surprised by how much noise it makes. Just know that as long as you’re keeping your cat close and as comfortable as possible, this noise is simply the result of your cat letting you know it’s a little unhappy and not the result of any actual physical distress. Also, plenty of cat owners have turned their pets into great travelers, so don’t be afraid to continue venturing out with your kitty.

What's With Your Dog's Destructive Chewing?

Do you have a dog that just won't stop chewing? Are your belongings slowly disappearing in the face of your dog's destructive behavior? Destructive chewing can be caused by a variety of issues. You can typically determine the root cause by observing your dog. Even if your dog's behavior is normal, there are steps that can be taken to reduce destructive chewing. 

5 Dog Diseases Impacted by Nutrition

As any vet will tell you, there are a number of health problems found in dogs that are related directly to diet. Since helping dogs enjoy healthy and happy lives is a key part of our mission, we want to highlight several of the conditions that fall into this category:

1. Pancreatitis

This condition occurs when the pancreas gets inflamed and digestive enzymes start flowing into the abdominal area. Those enzymes then start breaking down proteins and fats in other organs and the pancreas. Dietary fat has been linked to a higher risk of developing this condition. Ensuring your dog keeps its fat intake to a minimum will reduce that risk.

2. Heart Disease

As with humans, heart disease is unfortunately a fairly prevalent issue with dogs. One of the leading causes of this disease is increased sodium. The reason getting too much salt can lead to heart disease is blood vessels will retain more water, which in turn increases blood pressure. Since table scraps often have a lot of sodium, this is one of several reasons why feeding them to your dog isn’t the best idea.

3. Bladder Stones

There are multiple types of bladder stones that dogs can develop. But they tend to cause the same issues, including straining to urinate, urinary accidents and discolored urine. Getting an adequate amount of both phosphorus and calcium without going overboard is the best prevention against these stones.

4. Diarrhea

Although this condition may not be as pressing as the others, it’s still a problem. Before we address why, it’s worth noting that diarrhea (especially if it includes bloody stool) can signal a very serious health condition. If you have any concerns about your dog’s diarrhea, it’s always best to err on the side of caution by contacting your vet. For cases of diarrhea not caused by a serious health problem, effective solutions include ensuring your dog eats at consistent times during the day and gets enough fiber.

5. Obesity

Not only is a significant percentage of the US human population affected by obesity, but more than fifty percent of all dogs suffer from it as well. This condition increases their risk for everything from higher blood pressure to arthritis. In addition to getting plenty of exercise, giving your dog food that has the right nutrients without an excess of calories is key.

An Important Note About Freshness

If you look at the ingredients in our food, you’ll see that we go to great lengths to provide the optimal balance for dogs’ health. Additionally, freshness is one of our top priorities. By making our food fresh every month, we’re able to ensure that all the nutrients in our food remains active and actually does what it’s supposed to in regards to helping dogs.