• Pets
    Five Things You Need to Know About Morkies

    Morkies are a ridiculously sweet breed of dogs. This dog is the product of interbreeding between Maltese and Yorkie breeds, both of which are adorable in their own ways. It is quite hard to define Morkies in few words. They are curious, intelligent, playful, and of course, make for great companions. While Morkie puppies can adapt to several environments, sadly, a lot of people remain skeptical about owning one. The truth is that not all dog breeds can get along with everyone. Hence, it is imperative for a person to be sure about a dog breed before coming to a decision. Here is a list of things you need to know about Morkies:

    Rather stubborn
    Morkies are known for their stubbornness. They always have things their way, and their cuteness only helps them in this process. People who multitask with their family, work, etc., or those who find it difficult to assert dominance over others, or people who have anger issues might find it difficult to manage this breed.

    Lifespan
    They are known to live for around 13 years. Unless you are prepared to care for your pets for such a long time, you should not think about owning or adopting one. It is unfair to purchase a Morkie puppy, only to send them to a shelter later on because of an inability to commit to them.

    Vulnerable
    They weigh about 8 pounds. Pet owners should realize that this dog will remain pup-sized for all their lives. Also, they are not very strong. Their size gives away the fact that they can be hurt easily, and if you already have a big dog, you must realize that it might hurt Morkie puppies inadvertently. If you have children in your home, you must warn them against playing with Morkies too aggressively.

    Perennially hungry
    The size of the dog is deceptive. If you think it Morkies are easy to maintain then think again. Morkies are called a hungry breed. Morkie puppies want to eat all the time, and a dog owner should never let that happen. There are several instances of Morkie owners overfeeding their dog, which results in obesity-related complications.

    Noisy lot
    Morkies seem to love the sound of their barks. It is commonly known that small sized dogs tend to bark a lot, but this breed sets the benchmark quite high. If you have young children or seniors at home who need to follow a regular sleep pattern, you should reconsider your decision about Morkies.

  • Pets
    Best Puppy Food for Small Dog Breeds

    Have you just brought home a new puppy? There is no doubt that this is a very exciting time for you and your family. However, you need to remember that the first few days are also important in terms of getting the new member of your household accustomed to the home environment, setting up a routine with its daily grooming, playtime, food habits, walks in the park to relieve itself, and establishing limits by showing them their space in the house.

    This adorable new addition to your life and home needs to be kept healthy and happy, and the first thing you would wonder is what kind of food your puppy might enjoy. Both wet and dry foods are best suited for the nutritional needs of small breed puppies. The right food has the correct balance of ingredients like water, protein, natural fats, carbohydrates, essential minerals, and vitamins. We recommend getting sample packets of the best dog foods for small breed dogs to feed your furry friend. Then, you can pick a combination of the best wet and dry dog food for small breeds that your little pooch can chew easily and likes the most. This step would ensure that your puppy reaps the benefits of both these kinds of food. Here is a list of the best dog foods, in particular, the best puppy food for small dog breeds.

    Dry Food

    • Nutro™ Wholesome Essentials™ Puppy Dry Dog Food
    • Diamond Naturals Small Breed Puppy Chicken & Rice Formula
    • Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Small Breed Puppy Food
    • Blue Buffalo Blue Life Protection Formula® Chicken and Oatmeal Recipe for Small Breed Puppies

    Wet Food

    • Hill’s® Science Diet® Small and Toy Breed Wet Dog Food, Chicken & Barley Entrée
    • Royal Canin® Canine Health Nutrition™ Puppy in Gel Canned Food
    • CANIDAE® Grain Free PURE Foundations® Puppy Food
    • Wellness CORE Grain Free Puppy Formula

    Puppies do not stay young for a long time, so it is essential to give them the most balanced, nutritious, and immune boosting foods while they are growing up so that they have the required strength and vitality to lead healthy lives. Small breed puppies have special needs because they take lesser time, somewhere between 9-12 months, to reach their full adult size. You also need to feed them frequently because their rate of assimilation is faster than larger breed puppies. So choose the best brand of dog food for small dog breeds with care and love, while also ensuring that you do not overfeed them out of anxiety.

  • Pets
    Three Healthy Dog Treats That You Should Know About

    A recent study shows that nearly 37% of American households own a dog. This number has increased by around 5% from the years 2010 to 2015. The increase has also led to a sudden mushrooming of countless pet products, be it food, medicines, toys or recreational centers. Undoubtedly, dog owners consider nutrition to be the most important criteria of the lot. Often, enticing commercials and eye-popping offers or discounts come our way, and this makes it harder to make a decision. So what kind of food should one serve to their dog? While the short answer to this is “anything healthy,” the long answer would be anything that has plenty of proteins. Dog food should also be free from any artificial flavoring, sodium and of course added sugar, which is detrimental to the health of dogs. Here is a list of three healthy dog food options that you should consider and why you should consider these choices.

    Stella & Chewy’s Carnivore Crunch Beef Recipe
    To start with, this product is minimally processed. This brand has straightforward ingredients, and it contains delicious whole proteins in bite-sized portions. In fact, many dog owners seem to prefer this brand because it has lesser salt, sweeteners, and carbs compared to a biscuit. This brand is a healthy dog treat as it promises only three calories per treat. Thus, this is also the best diet dog food.

    Zuke’s Mini Naturals®
    This product comes in few flavors like peanut, chicken, roasted pork, and wild rabbit. The peanut option is the cheapest of the lot as it costs about $5 for a 6-ounce bag. A lot of dog owners prefer this for the sake of convenience. The packet is easy to carry, especially if you are traveling with your pooch or taking them for long walks. Their uniform shape and size help dog owners serve precise potions, and the semi-moist texture helps to keep the floors clean from messy crumbs.

    ZiwiPeak Venison Treats
    Undoubtedly, this product offers the best ingredients that a dog owner could find. In fact, it is often included in lists of top 10 best dog foods. If you were to take a look at the ingredient list, you would notice that it consists of 98% whole venison, that is grass-fed and sustainably sourced from New Zealand. This is perfect for dogs that like to chew because these treats are chewier than Zuke’s Mini Naturals®. Also, it has no added salt, and several dog trainers endorse products that are low on added salt. While this is a relatively expensive option, it is worth purchasing as it is one of the healthiest dog treats available.

  • Pets
    Best Dog Foods to Prevent Health Risks

    Dogs are the most liked pets and many families want to own them as a way to have a complete house. If you have one, you know that it is important to choose the right diet plan for puppies, adult dogs, and grownup dogs to prevent any health risks. Like human beings, dogs also face health problems that affect their quality of life. Food allergies are common in dogs that can lead to difficult symptoms.

    Some of the common signs of a food allergy in dogs include rashes, ear infections, itching, hot spots, flatulence, weepy eyes, and excessive itching. The repeated exposure to allergens in some foods can cause chronic illnesses that require proper solutions. Dogs won’t develop allergic reactions to foods overnight, and a change in diet plan will ultimately lead to health disorders.

    Dog owners should focus more on doing a complete research on foods before buying them from the markets. It is advisable to know what type of ingredients are responsible for food allergies in dogs. Experts say that food allergen in beef, dairy products, chicken, lamb, corn, wheat, soy, and yeast may induce the allergy problems in dogs.

    Most food allergies in dogs primarily occur due to over-response of the immune system. In fact, certain proteins present in a particular ingredient of diets may lead to allergy problems.

    Treating food allergies in dogs
    It has been proved that the allergens play a key role in the formation of food allergy in dogs. On the other hand, it is possible to reduce the symptoms by removing them from a diet. Anyone who wants to protect their dogs from potential threats must consult with a veterinary doctor for choosing the best dog food for allergies.

    While most doctors recommend a single source of foods to dogs, some may suggest a combination of the best dog foods that contain less protein to prevent allergies. In many cases, veterinary physicians will diagnose the allergy problems of dogs by implementing an elimination food diet.

    How to choose the best dog food for allergies?
    Dog owners should consider the dog’s age, activity, breed, and reproductive status while buying foods from a store. It is important to determine whether grain-free foods are suitable for a dog. One should check the nutritional elements when buying dog food. Reading the ingredients of the best dog food brands will help to avoid food allergy disorders in dogs.

    People willing to purchase the best dog food for allergies should give importance to a brand, quality, prices, reviews, and ingredients. Even though there are many choices available in the markets, it is necessary to do some research on them for making a right decision.

    Foods for dogs to reduce allergy symptoms
    Hypoallergenic foods involve different types of ingredients that enable the dogs to stay away from health risks. It is wise to find a reputed brand before investing money in food products.

    The Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient is a leading brand of dog food in the country which serves a single protein source to dogs. Furthermore, it is free from allergens.

    Purina® Pro Plan® Veterinary Diets HA is mainly meant for dogs that are allergic to meat products. It contains vitamins, minerals, and other essential fatty acids thereby showing ways for ensuring proper digestion.

    Natural Balance® L.I.D Limited Ingredient Diets® is free from grains which can help dogs to control allergy symptoms efficiently. In addition, it is the best dog food for allergies that enable an animal to improve their digestion process with limited ingredients.

    BLUE Basics® Limited Ingredient Diet is a hypoallergenic food enabling dogs to restore their health conditions with high protein sources.

    All brands are not the same and they may not fit every dog. Therefore, dog owners should seek advice from a veterinarian before choosing the brand of dog food to prevent allergies.

     

  • Pets
    A Buying Guide for Cat Food

    When you have a pet cat in your house, it has to be well fed with nutritious food to enjoy a long and healthy life. There are different types of cat food available in the market. It is important to make the right choice while buying food for your feline friend in order for it to enjoy delicious and nutritious meals.

    The best food for cats have:

    • More meat and less grain
      The cat food must be grain-free as suggested by experts and food critics. The first ingredient should be meat. Search the product accordingly.
    • No wheat, soy or corn as carbohydrate sources
      If you have to choose food with grain for your cat, avoid wheat, soy or corn at all cost since these can trigger allergies as per veterinarians.
    • No artificial preservatives
      The cat food you buy must be free from all kinds of preservatives like BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin.
    • Safety records
      The company producing cat food must hold a good record and maintain good control over the ingredient sources. There are cat food brands that go the extra mile of testing the food independently as well. Companies that acted responsibly by being forthright when anything has gone wrong are likely to do the same in the future.

    Things to know before you buy cat food

    Canned vs Dry
    Some veterinarians see no issue with dry food for cats. However, there are others who say cats need wet food because they are evolved to get moisture from their food source. Cats have the low-thirst drive and thus they would never drink enough water on its own and dry-fed cats are at risk of developing life-threatening and painful urinary problems.

    Dry food costs less than canned food and it is more convenient for cat owners as well since they can be left out in the open when they are not home. There are cats who prefer dry food more than canned food, although it is generally a case of the cat owner’s will. Having said that, it is important to consider what the cat likes since it is his general health that matters. If any cat has a history of urinary issues, it is best to discuss with a vet and decide the way forward.

    Raw Food
    Some experts and cat owners say that it would be best if the cats feed on raw food like raw meat, organs and bone, as they would when in the wild. Buy frozen raw food that would mimic the natural prey of the cat. Another option would be dehydrated near-raw foods. The food is steamed to kill pathogens.

    Byproducts- Good or Bad
    Byproducts are good as per some experts since normally a cat would eat everything of its prey in the wild like fur, bones, internal organs and everything else. However, there are others who are concerned about the contents of the byproducts and the quality of their sources. If the cat food producing company does not adhere to standards then the byproducts included in the food may not be deemed fit for consumption for the pet.

    Budget Requirement
    The best of the lot in cat food is made with high-quality meat with no fillers, grains or artificial ingredients and thus they are the most expensive. However, that does not mean you need to spend a fortune on cat food. Even the priciest can be afforded.

    Consider Vague-Sounding Ingredients
    “Chicken meat” is a decent ingredient in cat food. High-quality cat foods have chicken meat and at times bone rendered to eliminate moisture. On the other hand, “meat and bone meal” can be derived from any mammal. “Animal digest” generally refers to soft animal tissue. It has been “digested” using enzymes into liquid form. Though all these are legal cat food ingredient, best-quality product brands do not use them.

  • Pets
    Treat Your Feline Friends with the Best Food

    Your cat needs nourishing food to live a long and healthy life. Moreover, they must enjoy the cat food served to them as well. They may like salmon more than chicken or require a grain-free diet to have a calm stomach. The dry food you choose for your cat has to be tasty as well as nutritious. The list of best cat foods available on the market is given below:

    Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Dry Cat Food
    This cat food has a variety of protein sources and is available in different flavors. It is sure to satisfy the taste buds of your feline friend. With limited ingredients in each flavor, they are sure to ensure healthy digestion and prevent stomach upset. The key ingredient is always green peas and meat source could be duck, chicken, venison or salmon. All these flavors are grain free. They offer a balanced, daily nutrition with six fatty acids along with omega-3. While fatty acids provide a healthy and shiny coat, the protein and fiber allow for sustained energy and easy digestion. This cat food is also available in chickpea and salmon as well as chickpea and turkey indoor formula. This one is overall the best cat food. The food is available in bag size of 2, 4.5, 5, 8 and 10 pounds. The price of this product starts at $14.99.

    Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Dry Cat Food
    This one is a high-quality food product meant for adult cats that do not want a meal with wheat in it. There are two different flavors available- Brown rice and salmon, brown rice and chicken. Both the flavors contain real meat and do not contain wheat, poultry by-products, ground corn, preservatives or artificial flavors. Your cat is going to get plenty of prebiotics to aid in digestion and fiber from this food source. It also has beet pulp and taurine in it. The amino acid supports a healthy vision and a healthy heart. This is probably the second best item in this category. It comes in bag sizes of 3, 6 and 14 pounds. You can get this product at a starting price of around $6.44.

    Purina Beyond Natural Grain Free Ocean Whitefish & Egg Recipe Dry Cat Food
    This may be a grain-free cat food but would not burn a hole in your pocket like other varieties. This product is devoid of preservatives, flavors, artificial colors, ground corn, soy, and wheat. In fact, the first ingredient of this cat food is ocean whitefish followed by pea protein and chicken meal. While eggs, pea protein, and chicken provide lean protein, ocean whitefish delivers amino acids. The entire meal provided carbohydrate for energy and fiber along with a complete set of everyday minerals and vitamins. This one is the best grain-free option available on the market. You would get this product in bag sizes of 3, 5, and 11 pounds. The price of this cat food starts at around $20.52.

    Blue Buffalo BLUE for Cats
    Sometimes the furry friend is fed too much with treats and thus it needs to slim down. This product is for cats that need to watch their weight. This one is available in turkey and chicken flavors. There is a Chicken Weight Control Formula as well which comes in bag size of 7 and 15 pounds. Both the varieties have deboned chicken (no by-product), high-protein, veggies, fruits and whole grains like spinach, brown rice, apples, and pomegranate. All these provide vitamins and antioxidants to the cat. This product is available in bag sizes of 3, 7 and 15 pounds and the price starts at around $21.23.

    You can choose to feed your cat with any of the foods mentioned above. If you want, you can swap the brands once in a while. However, you need to test whether your pet cat likes the different brand of food given to it or not. Moreover, you would also need to check whether any of the food is causing any discomfort to him or not. Take a decision as per your observation.

  • Pets
    Resolving the Problem of a Sensitive Stomach in Dogs

    Sensitive stomach in dogs can cause several symptoms and pet owners must prepare a right plan for them to prevent health hazards. It is mainly caused by parasites, infections, poor digestive system, food allergy, and other conditions. Those who want to protect their dogs from sensitive stomach disorder must know what type of ingredient in foods may cause the symptoms

    Dogs that are having a sensitive stomach may develop the following symptoms which affect the quality of life.

    • Diarrhea
    • Lack of appetite
    • Vomiting
    • Blood in stool
    • Flatulence
    • Inability to digest foods
    • Hypersalivation

    The sensitive stomach can occur in any dog breed which leads to other disorders. Some dogs are easily prone to symptoms that require special attention.

    It is an important one to feed the sensitive stomach dogs with foods that are having limited ingredients that ultimately help to restore conditions. A limited ingredient food is available with only a few nutrients enabling a dog to overcome digestion problems. In fact, it serves as a balanced diet offering a better solution for the sensitive stomach disorder. Anyone who wants to buy limited ingredient foods must give more importance to the brand, quality, and nutrients for achieving optimal results.

    Veterinarians say that there is no single source available for treating the sensitive stomach disorders in dogs. Instead, they recommend trial and error foods which work the best for a specific canine.

    At the same time, choosing foods for dogs need proper research that can help to improve their overall health conditions. The sensitive stomach is mainly caused by wheat, corn, dairy product, chicken, and beef ingredients which lead to severe consequences.

    Selecting the right foods for stomach sensitivity
    Dog owners willing to find exact reasons for the stomach sensitivity problems can employ the basics of elimination diets.

    Leading companies today offer dog foods at the discounted prices allowing people to reduce expenses considerably. In addition, they show ways for knowing more details about them online for ordering a product according to needs.

    Nature’s Variety is one of the fast-moving brands in the market. It is a limited ingredient food that comes with only one protein and carbohydrate. Another thing is that the brand serves as the best dog food for sensitive stomach which paves ways for reducing the symptoms effectively.

    Wellness Simple Series is another brand which works well for the sensitive stomach problems. Moreover, it is an ideal choice for experimentation purposes enabling the dog owners to make a right decision.

    Zignature Limited Ingredient Dog food doesn’t contain any filler, grains, calories, fat, and chicken making a dog to get high-quality protein.

    NUTRO™ MAX® Dry Dog Food brand is a suitable one for adult dogs that contain very limited ingredients which provide solutions for stomach upset problems with high successive rates. Apart from that, it even comes with essential fatty oils that aid in brain development.

    Merrick Limited Ingredient Food has a single source of animal protein in it which offers complete and balanced nutrition to canines.

    Purina® Pro Plan® worked for many dogs as reported by pet owners. The ingredients in the food are appropriate for the dogs with stomach upsets thereby showing ways for recovering from symptoms.

    IAMS™ PROACTIVE HEALTH™ Wet Dog Food is rich in moisture content and carbs allowing a dog to receive well-balanced nutrients. In fact, it is available only with essential ingredients which can help to enhance the living conditions of dogs.

    How to order the foods online?
    Anyone who wants to order the best dog food for sensitive stomach online must compare the reviews and ratings for getting more ideas easily. Foods make all the difference to dogs just like human beings letting them live a healthy lifestyle. Picking up the right food is the main responsibility of a dog owner in order to prevent a dog from complex issues. However, it must cater to the needs of all breeds for eliminating health complications including stomach disorders.