Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Bone Treats Are Not Safe For Dogs


The FDA issued a warning against giving your dog bone treats citing numerous reports of health issues such as diarrhea, choking, vomiting, intestinal blockage and even death. Most bone treats for dogs are highly processed with chemicals and flavorings and even though our pets want them, please try to consider other safer alternatives. A better alternative is raw frozen bones. Many raw food manufacturers offer frozen bones but even these should still be supervised. While very nutritious, raw frozen bones can be problematic for some sensitive dogs because they are very fatty and can cause pancreatitis. The safest option is to take a plain sterilized bone or Kong ball and fill it with canned food or treats. You can freeze to make it more of a challenge.
Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Want to live longer? Get a Dog!


Ownership is associated with a reduced risk for cardiovascular disease and death, finds a new Swedish study in the journal Scientific Reports.

For people living alone, owning a dog can decrease their risk of death by 33% and their risk of cardiovascular related death by 36%, when compared to single individuals without a pet, according to the study. Chances of a heart attack were also found to be 11% lower.


Multi-person household owners also saw benefits, though to a lesser extent. Risk of death among these dog owners fell by 11% and their chances of cardiovascular death were 15% lower. But their risk of a heart attack was not reduced by owning a dog.

There is no better time to save a homeless dog from a shelter or rescue.  Dogs can change your life and bring so much magic into your home.
Sunday, November 19, 2017

What Can Cause Blood in Your Cat or Dog's Urine?


Seeing blood in your pet’s urine is scary and warrants immediate action.  If you see blood in your cat’s or dog’s urine (also known as hematuria) call your veterinarian immediately to determine the cause. It can occur at any age or breed and the most common causes are Urinary Tract Infections (UTI), Stones, Urethral plug in cats, interstitial cystitis and cancer.  Many bladder issues are a result of inflammation and while conventional medications can help get rid of the infection, adding natural treatments can help support your pet’s overall urinary health and reduce inflammation  Since many urinary tract infections commonly repeat, using a holistic approach (diet changes along with supplements) is essential to use along with the veterinary protocol recommended by your veterinarian.    The most beneficial supplements for pets with blood in their urine are:
  • Power Probiotic for Pets-  A powerful multi-strain formula that repopulates your pet's digestive tract with healthy "friendly" bacteria which boost the immune system.
  • Pet UTI-  Ingredients scientifically proven to help prevent recurring infections and help prevent bacteria from clinging to the urinary tract.  Helps maintain proper pH of the urine.
  • NotaSANs drops or capsules- Natural anti-infection formula that is very effective at helping to prevent infections from recurring and reduce inflammation in the urinary tract 
  • Renelix (If pet has stones or crystals)-Flushes out toxins accumulated in the kidneys and bladder.   Excellent product for cats and dogs with bladder cancer, chronic renal failure, urinary crystals and urinary incontinence.  
These veterinary-recommended supplements have successfully been used in veterinary hospitals since 2005.  On the order form at checkout, please include your dog or cat's diet and urinary tract issues.  We will include a free diet suggestion for your pet on the packing slip that comes with your product directions.
Saturday, November 18, 2017

Natural Alternatives To Prescription Diets For Cats and Dogs


At some point in your pet’s life, your pet will develop a health condition and your vet will recommend a prescription diet. Prescription diets are scientifically formulated to provide the right balance of protein, fats, carbohydrates and nutrients to address that particular health condition. For example, if your pet has pancreatitis, the prescription diet will contain reduced fat to take the burden off the pancreas and ease digestion. While the overall strategy of the diets are effective in obtaining the desired goal (e.g. reduced pancreatic inflammation) the problem is......the ingredients.

What frequently happens is that while the goal of the treatment is successful, the pet then develops OTHER health issues related to the food.  For example, it's common for pets eating prescription diets to develop allergy symptoms and skin infections when they didn’t have them previously. Why? Because unfortunately the prescription diets are loaded with carbohydrates, grains and synthetic chemicals. Ingredients such as brewer’s rice, modified rice starch, egg product—what are these??? There isn’t one prescription diet that outshines another as they all contain similar fillers. What’s a pet owner to do? If your pet needs a special diet, you do have options for a natural food.

For over ten years, we at Ask Ariel offered holistic pet consultations at VCA hospitals and via telephone. With our extensive knowledge about pet nutrition we have formulated many diet plans using commercial brands that mirror the requirements of the prescription diets without using grains, chemicals or allergens. We welcome you to please visit our site www.AskAriel.com and if you include your pet’s diet on the order form at checkout with all of your pet’s current health issues, we can include a diet suggestion for your pet on the packing slip that comes with your product order.
Thursday, November 16, 2017

How to Take the Perfect Holiday Photo of Your Pet


It’s an exciting time of year to go to the mailbox.  Instead of the usually bills and junk mail, there soon will be some lovely holiday cards. Everyone loves to hear from family and friends and it is especially exciting when a picture is included with the card. Since pets are family, it's nice to include our four-legged family members in our holiday cards.  Here are a few tips to getting a great photo of your best pal:
  • Help your pet relax- Before the photo session begins give your pet lots of attention, let them play with a favorite toy or give them a treat. Making sure your pet is relaxed and in a good mood is your first step in getting a great picture.
  • Get their attention- Obviously, for the best shot your pet needs to look at the camera. Try to get their attention by making an interesting sound (a squeaky toy often works well) but resist calling your pet's name or they may come running to you.
  • Keep the props simple- A red bow around their neck, peeking through a wreath, sitting by a Christmas tree or playing in the snow all make great shots.
  • Don’t use a flash- Flash photography and pets are a challenge, often the pet winds up with glaring eyes. Your cat or dog could also become startled and anxious from the flash. Use the manual settings on your camera to adjust lighting or choose to take the photos outside in the natural daylight.
  • Take a selfie with your pet- Joining your pet in the photo will help them relax and create a fun, candid photo. For best results, hold the camera about a foot over your head and aim down, making sure to fill the frame with both you and your pet’s faces.
  • Create the perfect holiday card- After you have “the” shot, make it the best photograph possible by using one the many photo editing applications to fix any imperfection. 
  • As an alternative to taking the photo yourself, many rescues and charities offer Photos With Santa at a reasonable cost.  This gives you a great photo and helps save the life of a needy pet.

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

5 Tips To Ease Your Pet's Holiday Stress



The holiday season is here and with it comes a whirlwind of activities. Your plans may include hosting parties and family gatherings or traveling across the miles to see family and friends. As you enjoy the season’s activities,  it is easy to let routines slip. Unbeknownst to you, this change of routine might be causing your pet to experience stress and anxiety. Pets are creatures of habit and notice far more than you think!  This is often why pet owners end up spending some holiday time at the emergency veterinary hospital.  You might notice that your pet displays nervous hyperactivity, excessive chewing, irritability, accidents in the house or  physical symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting.   By anticipating the stress that can come with the holidays, you can plan ahead, keep your pet's routine as normal as possible and hopefully avoid any mishaps.  

You can help ease your pet’s stress during the holidays with these 5 simple tips:

Stick to your routine - Try to maintain your pet's normal routine as much as possible.  Our pets are creatures of habit and they may become anxious if there is a sudden change in their feeding schedule, exercise routine, bedtime or place to sleep (ex:  when Aunt Bessie takes over the guest room where you dog likes to sleep).

Make sure to maintain your regular exercise schedule - Exercise can help release energy and reduce anxiety. It will also release endorphins to help with restlessness and irritability.  Using Psystabil can help too. It is a natural calming formula that can help your pet “cope” better with triggers that cause anxiety.

Give your pet plenty of attention - We all get busy during the holiday season, but remembering to give your pet extra attention can go a long way to helping your pet feel calm and safe.

Provide a safe space - Regardless if you are traveling or having guests in your home, it important for your pet to have a safe place. Try to plan and determine the best location especially if your pet is used to relaxing in an area where guests will now be residing. 

Plan Ahead With Treats And Don't Change Their Diet - While it is tempting to give your pet a “treat” during the holidays, it can also cause a lot of unwanted problems and result in an emergency veterinary visit.  Be careful about where desserts and goodies are stored.  Keep trash tightly closed.  It's so easy for pets to get into things when you are busy entertaining guests.   Plan ahead with treats so that you have ample supply of your pet's regular treats on hand.  Keep Soothing Digestive Relief and Power Probiotic  on handThese formulas provide immediate relief for discomfort and help with diarrhea, indigestion, tummy rumbling and soft stool.

Sunday, November 12, 2017

How To Give Supplements To Your Cat

Ask Ariel supplements are made with the highest quality ingredients.  They don't contain artificial flavorings, sugars or fillers.  This ensures that your pet will get the best results and won't have any harmful reactions to the chemicals and fillers used to make a lot of pet supplements.  But, one common question is  if this isn't a flavored paste or tablet, "how can I get my cat to take your supplements?"  Many cats are finicky (some small dogs too) and won't eat anything different that is on their food.  So here is how in 3 easy steps:

Step 1:  Determine how much of each supplement you need to use and combine supplements together.  Open the capsules and pour out the desired amount into a bowl.

Step 2:  Take the back end off your syringe and fill about half way with water, broth or "soupy liquid pet food".  Squirt this into the bowl with the powder.  Mix until the powder is dissolved in the liquid.

Step 3:  Syringe the mixture back up and into your cat's mouth.

Please note these simple instructions apply strictly to Ask Ariel supplements for cats.  Many medications and other vitamins may not be able to be combined.  Please always check with your veterinarian about the correct way to administer medications.
Saturday, November 11, 2017

SAMe Is Essential When Giving Dogs NSAIDs For Pain

Is your dog taking NSAIDs? (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories). If so, use Special SAMe along with it to support liver detoxification and mobility.

Often when dogs age, especially medium and large size dogs, they develop painful elbow and hip dysplasia. We highly recommend using the Arthritis Kit and Ultra-Flex for all senior dogs to help with pain and inflammation associated with these age-related conditions.  If your pet's pain has advanced, your vet may prescribe Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs).  These medications can provide temporary relief but should be used sparingly along with the supplements as they can affect your dog's liver and kidneys.   Many NSAIDs are processed through the liver, so using Special SAMe is especially important.  Special SAMe (S-denosylmethionine for Dogs) is scientifically proven to support liver detoxification and help with arthritis and mobility.  It is an excellent companion product to give your dog if you are using a NSAID drug such as Rimadyl, Deramax, Meloxicam, etc. 
Thursday, November 9, 2017

3 Reasons Why Probiotics Are Good For Your Cat or Dog


Probiotics are not only safe for pets, they are very beneficial.  Probiotics are live microorganisms that live in various parts (such as mouth, sinuses, intestinal tract) of your pet’s body.  Probiotics have been scientifically proven to benefit all pets in a variety of ways.

Here are 3 reasons why every pet needs them:

1) Probiotics Support Immune Health - Friendly bacteria found in probiotics are critical for your pet’s immune health.  The majority of your pet’s immune system is located in the intestinal tract.  This explains why pets using Power Probiotic will see improvement in  immune system health conditions such as Pillow Paw.
2) Probiotics Are Essential If Your Pet Has Taken Antibiotics - When cats or dogs  take antibiotics it is because they have an antibacterial infection such as an ear infection, UTI or upper respiratory infection. The use of antibiotics or steroids can weaken your pet's long-term ability to fight infections because they kill off the beneficial bacteria.  This friendly bacteria strengthen your pet's immune system so that when the medication is stopped, the infection won't reoccur.  

3) Probiotics maximize good digestion and optimal health for all stages of a pet's life
Probiotics are helpful for young kittens and puppies as well as for senior pets.  Power Probiotic is easy to administer.  Just open the capsule and mix into your pet's food.  Many pets LOVE the taste of Power Probiotic.  Please see the video  of Steven the rescue kitty scarfing down his Power Probiotic 
Monday, November 6, 2017

JuJu The Three Legged Rescue Dog

"I adopted Juju 4 years ago...I was visiting a friend’s farm out in Temecula and he and I fell in love right away. She had rescued him but couldn’t keep him.  She had been working at the shelter the day they brought him in with a shattered leg and no tags. They were going to have to put him down, but she said even with a shattered leg his little tail was wagging and his eyes were begging her for help.  She raised the money for the amputation on Facebook. He has his own Facebook page “Juju: A Three Legged Dog’s Incredible Journey” so that donors would be able to follow his progress. I always tell him we both won the lottery that day!  He is a true joy and so well adapted to life on 3 legs.

Since Sammie passed away last year it’s just been Juju and I…  When I first got him he had parasites, but even after we cleared that up at the vet, his appetite was poor and his stool was always rock-hard and strange looking. Sammie was taking the Power Probiotic, so I started putting some in Juju’s food twice a day. It really helped his digestion and his stools became normal. He could finally eat normally and could easily go to the bathroom. I decided it was worth the price to have him on a really good probiotic and your products are always the best.  Thanks again for all you do for animals!" Randi- California
Thursday, November 2, 2017

Natural IBS Relief For Cats


Has your cat been suffering with diarrhea, vomiting, lack of appetite or weight loss? These can all be signs of Irritable Bowel Syndrome in cats (feline IBS) and should not be ignored. For some cats with IBS, the symptoms appear when they are young kittens but many times, it appears in older cats. This can be frustrating and shocking to the pet parent as often there have been no diet changes.  Pet owners may report that their cat “has been eating the same food for years without a problem”.  This is because inflammation builds up and the symptoms might be more subtle when the pet is younger.  

The first step for natural IBS Relief is to change your cat's diet.  Just because your pet might “like” a food does not mean it is good for them. Most likely the pet food contains too many starchy carbohydrates such as rice, peas, grains and cats as natural carnivores do not need this in their diets.  Your cat may have a food allergy to certain commonly used proteins such as fish and poultry.  It's important to find a low carbohydrate, hypoallergenic diet to help relieve your cat's IBS symptoms.  While some cats may initially resist a diet change, with patience and a lot of options, you will find something better that your kitty will accept.

Using cat IBS natural remedies in conjunction with a diet change can provide much  relief for your cat’s intestinal discomfort.  The IBD kit, which contains cat IBS natural remedies that target the symptoms and causes of IBS and the Gastro ULC a natural remedy that coats the stomach and helps with acid reflux which is common with vomiting, can offer a great deal of relief.


IBD Kit--This kit includes 3 unique formulas that have been specially formulated for IBD and  used successfully to help cats with inflammatory bowel disease.  The Kit includes Power Probiotic, Soothing Digestive Relief and Notatum Anti-Inflammatory Drops. When a pet has severe IBD, it is necessary to use a combination of formulas because they work differently to help reduce the symptoms and repair the intestinal lining.  We have seen many cats especially improve using these three formulas together.

Probiotic--it is important to use a multi-strain, powerful Probiotic that has been used extensively with cats that have IBD. Most probiotics are not manufactured in such a way so that they can survive the stomach acid, let alone a hot day.  Power Probiotic for Pets  is easy to administer, very effective and well tolerated by cats and dogs. The product has been third-party tested and guaranteed to contain the amounts of friendly bacteria indicated on the label.

Soothing Digestive Relief for Pets is a gentle formula that has helped thousands of cat and dog owners to finally stop the diarrhea. It contains herbs to ease indigestion and discomfort.    

Gastro ULC--this works as a natural "Pepto Bismol" for pets.  It is very effective in reducing the pain of acid stomach, helping to reduce inappetance and reflux.