The following article was published in the July issue of the HealthyPetNet Newsletter:

In the summer of one of the most turbulent economic periods in a lifetime, Americans are rediscovering simplicity and frugality.  These days, it’s not uncommon to see a small group playing an impromptu game of Frisbee, or a couple enjoying a nature hike through a local park, or an extended family spending an afternoon in the backyard barbecuing.

The summer months provide ample opportunities for outdoor fun, whether your idea of open-air enjoyment is a power-walk with your dog or watching an afternoon storm roll in from the safety of a back porch with your cat.  These activities help us brush away the winter cobwebs, shedding new light on our daily life.  But sometimes, we make discoveries that are not altogether pleasant.  Too often, the thinner, summer coats of our pets can reveal what winter coats have hidden from plain view – reddened skin irritations, possibly the sign of a seasonal or chronic allergy.

That’s right … just like humans, pets suffer from allergies.  Allergens can come from any number of sources, including grasses, trees, molds, dust mites and flea bites.  Even their food may contain allergens.  With all of these possible culprits, how can a pet parent learn what’s causing their pet’s allergy?

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Reprinted from the May, 2009, HealthyPetNet newsletter:

The splendor of summer is right around the bend.  We are approaching the season when children, freed from studies, populate the neighborhood, friends and families hold cook-outs, and we find ourselves preoccupied with the health our pet’s coats.

There’s a reason for our annual fixation.  Dogs usually begin to lose their winter coats in early spring, when it is gradually replaced by a shorter, lighter coat suited to the summer months.  The amount of shedding varies widely from breed to breed.  For example, the pet parents of German Shepherds will groan about the amount of shedding all year long, while those of us with poodles rarely have to get out the broom or vacuum, even with the arrival of summer.

While we’ve seen that growth cycles can be affected by mood, hormones, and nutrition, changes primarily occur due to fluctuations in the amount of daylight and temperature.

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As most of my regular readers know, Wholesome Pet Supply sells Life’s Abundance pet food. This all-natural, holistic food contains no chemicals or fillers and is shipped fresh to your door. The formulator of all Life’s Abundance pet foods is Dr. Jane Bicks, a world-renowned veterinarian.

Below is her message from the HealthyPetNet March Newsletter. Also, Dr. Jane has a weekly program where you can call in and ask her questions. You can be a part of the next Dr. Jane call. Calls with Dr. Jane are always informative and a lot of fun! To participate, simply dial 218-844-0860 at the appropriate time, and enter pass code 626116# after the prompt. The next “Ask Dr. Jane” call will be held on Wednesday, at 8:30 PM EDT.

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A new study reveals which U.S. cities are top dogs when it comes to pet health.

The study, conducted by the Purina Pet Institute, ranked those cities that exemplify superior care, services and legislation for pets’ health and well-being. It analyzed 30 different criteria ranging from veterinarian-to-pet ratios to incidence of obesity to rabies legislation. The top five Pet Healthiest Cities are:

1. Denver, Colo.
2. Oakland, Calif.
3. Portland, Ore.
4. Anaheim, Calif.
5. San Francisco, Calif.

“This is the only comprehensive evaluation of factors that impact pets’ health and affect their quality of life,” said Dan Christian, DVM, executive director of the Purina Pet Institute.

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• Many experts report that cats will purr when feeling any intense emotion (pleasure or pain).
• Give your cat fresh water at least once a day.  If your cat refuses your tap water, it may be sensing (with it’s superior sense of smell) the chlorine or other minerals in your water.  Many finicky felines demand bottled water, just like their human counterparts.
• Don’t put your cat on an all-vegetarian diet.  Cats need protein to survive.
• Never feed your cat dog food.   Cats need five times more protein than dogs do.
• If your cat misses one meal, a trip to the vet may be necessary.
• Cats are the sleepiest of all mammals.   They spend 16 hours of each day sleeping.  With that in mind, a seven year old cat has only been awake for two years of its life!
• Cats are more active during the evening hours.
• Cats spend 30% of their waking hours grooming themselves.
• 95% of all cat owners admit they talk to their cats.
• Backward-pointing spikes on a cat’s tongue aid in their grooming.
• The average cat weighs 12 pounds.
• If you can’t feel your cat’s ribs, she’s too heavy.
• If an overweight cat’s “sides” stick out further than her whiskers, she will lose her sense of perception and stability.  Don’t be surprised if she starts to squeeze into an opening that the rest of her can’t fit into, only to back herself back out quickly!
• According to the Guiness Book of World Records, the heaviest cat on record was Himmy, an Australian cat, who weighed 46 pounds, 15.25 ounces in 1986.  Himmy’s waist was 33 inches!  The previous record-holder had been Spice, a ginger-and-white tom cat from Connecticut, who weighed 43 pounds when he died in 1977.
• The tiniest cat on record was Tinker Toy from Illinois.  A male Himalayan-Persian, he weighed 1 pound, 8 ounces fully grown and was 7.25″ long and 2.75″ tall!
• Your cat is probably either a “righty” or a “lefty.”  Only 40% of cats are ambidextrous while another 40% are either right-pawed or left-pawed.
• Cats love high places.  They share this love with leopards and jaguars, who sleep in trees.  If a cat begins to fall, his inner ear canal (which controls balance) will help him right himself and land on his feet.
• Domestic cats are essentially loners.   When placed in a group, they develop their own hierarchy.  As long as there is plenty of food on hand, a cat can learn to share it’s domain with other cats.
• Cats are more aggressive when they are not neutered or spayed.

And don’t forget, the most important piece of knowledge to retain is that the very best food available for your cat is Life’s Abundance from Wholesome Pet Supply.

Indoor Plumbing

It wasn’t until after Word War II that cats became popular house pets. Before then they lived mostly outdoors. One reason for the change has been attributed to Edward Lowe of Cassopolis, Michigan, who introduced the convenient pellets known as kitty litter in 1947.

Right or Left?

Cats have a tendency to be southpaws, leading more often with the left paw than the right. This fact wqas discovered after patient observation by Professor J. Cole of Oxford University.

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By following some simple tips, you can ensure a trouble-free holiday season for you and your pets.

There are some things from which you should shield your pets during the festive months.

Some common holiday plants are toxic to cats and dogs.  Don’t keep holly, poinsettias, lilies or mistletoe on or near the floor, where pets have easy access to them.

If you have a live tree in your home, don’t let pine needles accumulate on the floor, as these needles can perforate the intestinal lining of dogs and cats.  Additionally, trees should be tethered to a wall or the ceiling to prevent them from falling on pets.

Don’t leave unfamiliar extension cords fully exposed, as these can resemble chew toys, which could result in serious injury to your dog.  Never leave lights plugged in when you are not at home.

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The cool winds of winter are already blowing through the nation.  Some states are experiencing sooner and greater than expected snowfalls.  So, what can you do to make sure your companion animals are prepared for the coming months?  Here are just a handful of helpful tips …

If your companion animal is older and arthritic, be sure not to leave her or him outside too long.  Just as with humans, colder temperatures can make arthritic joints stiff and painful.

Dogs that tend to walk on sidewalks and streets should have their paws cleaned upon re-entering the home.  Ice, rock salt and other chemicals can collect in their pads and cause irritation.

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The upcoming season presents numerous instances for increased anxiety during a flurry of holiday-related activities.  As you’ve probably seen time and time again, your sweet companions can be rattled by your own elevated levels of stress.  Fortunately, there are some specific steps you can take to cope with the demands for your time and energies, to make the holidays merry for you and your pets.

Be sure to plan ahead, to reduce the likelihood of last-minute decisions, which often infuse activities with an unnecessary sense of urgency.

Take advantage of online shopping, so you don’t have to leave your companion animals alone for extended periods of time.  And try to take care of multiple errands during each trip.  You’ll not only save gas (and therefore, money), you’ll also spend less time away from home.

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From the September, 2008, issue of the HealthyPetNet newsletter:

Your Pet and Your Health

Many of us agree that we should do everything within our power to make sure that our companion animals enjoy the best possible health.  But did you know that simply by being a part of your life, your dog or cat could actually help you to be not only happier but healthier, too?

Of course you did.  It’s all part of the privilege (and fun!) of being a pet parent.  What you may not know is that there’s plenty of science to back it up.  A wealth of knowledge regarding the health benefits associated with having companion animals has been accumulated over the last two decades, including numerous research studies in the U.S. and abroad.

A study published in The British Journal of Health Psychology reports that people who have companion animals tended to be healthier than those who did not.  Additionally, when a dog was part of the family, the members had fewer minor ailments, lower blood pressure and lower cholesterol.  Although the explanation for these advantages is unclear, researchers speculated that all benefits could be accounted for by reduced levels of stress, possibly due to increased physical activity and levels of social interaction.

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