Leaving For Vacation? A Home Remedy Can Help Your Stressed Pet

Not everyone is excited about your vacation. Many pets do not like changes in their daily routine. When your pet sees you pack a suitcase and head out the door, they realize that they are not going along. They may skip meals, sit by the door, howl or exhibit destructive behavior until you return. PSY-stabil Calming Supplement  helps cats and dogs cope with nervousness, anxiety and stress. It's a time-tested homeopathic remedy with a soothing, harmonizing effect on pets. Click on the link to learn more.

PSY-stabil Calming Supplement Helps Cats And Dogs With:

• Nervousness
• Anxiety
• Pacing Due To Dementia
• Difficulty Going To Sleep
• Jumpiness
• Stress
• Fear
• Separation Anxiety
• Vet Visits

Understanding The FDA Warning About Grain-Free Diets Made With Legumes And Canine Dilated Myopathy

What does the FDA's statement about grain-free diets for dogs mean and what should you feed your pets? The FDA is researching the connection primarily between "certain diets" and canine dilated cardiomyopathy. As a pet owner, the best thing you can do is read the actual FDA source report and compare your brand to those cases that were reported. If you follow Ask Ariel's newsletter and our posts, we have consistently stated that starchy carbohydrates, especially legumes, can lead to all types of health issues ranging from digestive problems, skin problems, diabetes and immune issues. We are big proponents of raw frozen diets made with species-appropriate food such as meat, poultry, fish, vegetables and omega 3s. Some pets with pancreatitis, liver or kidney disease can benefit from a small amount of sweet potatoes in their diet to control protein and fat levels but that is the EXCEPTION not the rule.

In the big rush to replace pro-inflammatory grains in dry food with another substitute filler, the hot new food option was legumes (e.g. chickpeas, beans, peas, soy, etc). Legumes are hard to digest, low in nutritional value, contain phytates (interfere with absorption of minerals), are high in carbohydrates (e.g. sugar) and contain pro-inflammatory lectins .. ..so why would that be beneficial for dogs and cats? And now there appears to be a link between pets consuming legumes, taurine absorption and DCM.

Unfortunately as this is being reported the term "grain-free diets" is being tossed around as though that is the cause of this heart disease discovery. Please replace the term grain-free with "dry kibble made with legumes".....Grain-free diets as in canned food (made without legumes), freeze dried raw and frozen raw are still wonderful food options for pets.

Natural Remedies For Feline Calicivirus

Oh no, this page has meow-ved!

Visit the new page here: https://www.askariel.com/feline-diseases-s/1837.htm.

Happy Father’s Day!

Wishing all the Dads and Pet Dads a Happy Father’s Day!

Raw Diets For Pets vs. Kibble

Raw Frozen Diets

When it comes to pet food, commercially prepared raw frozen diets are the gold standard. Raw frozen diets contain fresh protein (meat, poultry, etc) combined with vegetables and omega oils giving pets easily digestible, optimal nutrition that is low in carbohydrates. Some major brands include: Stella and Chewys, Instinct, Primal for example. Raw frozen diets can be especially helpful for pets with allergies, digestive problems and young, active pets. These are high protein diets containing real meat and poultry, organ meats, vegetables, omega oils and assorted nutrients. The ingredients are well balanced and speak for themselves.

Raw frozen diets are expensive and some cats won't eat them. Raw frozen diets don't have to be an all or nothing part of the pet's diet. Mixing a portion of raw frozen diets into your pet's food is a great option and is far better than not mixing in any at all. Many brands have tasty raw "mixers" and freeze dried raw options that pets will eat readily.

Pets that eat a raw frozen diet are getting a high moisture content which promotes overall health. This is why pets that eat raw frozen diets drink less water. The food is highly digestible so the stool size is often much smaller especially when compared to dry kibble. Since raw frozen diets are low in carbohydrates, they are an excellent choice for pets with allergies and/or yeast.

Click here to learn more about raw frozen diets

Dry Kibble Diets

Dry kibble is highly processed pet food made with carbohydrates to form the food along with a limited amount of protein. A portion of the protein percentage reported on the label is often derived from the starchy carbohydrates (e.g. potatoes) rather than from meat, fish or poultry. The primary reason dry kibble is produced is for convenience--not for your pet's nutrition. Carbohydrates used to make kibble range from grain-free legumes and potatoes to the less healthy grains such as rice and barley. Dry kibble can lead to bloat, yeast, itching, poor digestion since their ingredients are made for ease of administration. It can also contribute to autoimmune disorders in both cats and dogs.

Dry kibble is affordable and processed with preservatives to ensure a long shelf-life. Pets eating dry kibble often have large stools since many of the ingredients are not well digested. Cats are carnivores and have no need for dry kibble and yet, most cat foods are made with them. If you do choose to feed your pet dry kibble, please consider adding some raw frozen, canned or homemade food to their diet (NOT tablescraps!). Including lean protein, crumbled raw freeze dried or some raw frozen nuggets will add to their overall nutrition and good health. At the very least, consider adding green beans and other fresh vegetables to a dog's dry kibble to add enzymes and fresh nutrients to the diet.

Click here to learn more about dry kibble

When You Have To Leave Food Out

Dry kibble is a convenient way to leave food out for pets especially for working professionals. While free feeding is not optimal, sometimes it is a necessity when you are working long hours. We love our pets but we have to work. If this is your current situation, consider feeding dry kibble when you are not home and raw when you are OR as an even better alternative - consider RAW FREEZE DRIED. Raw freeze dried food is made with the same ingredients as the raw frozen diets but cooked slightly at low temperatures to make it a stable food that can be left out (if your pet doesn't devour it). Brands such as Stella and Chewys and Instinct offer companion freeze dried foods to their raw frozen diets for just this reason.

Finally, dehydrated food is made to appear as a "homemade alternative" and is also made with carbohydrates but these diets generally contain more nutritious ingredients and can be mixed with raw frozen diets. Due to the carbohydrates in most dehydrated food, these diets are not nearly as beneficial as raw frozen diets, but their convenience makes them a healthier option than over processed dry kibble.

Why Are Too Many Carbohydrates A Problem?

Why are too many carbohydrates a problem? Carbohydrates convert to sugar and can lead to yeast, diabetes and even cancer. Most notably they can affect immunity and worsen autoimmune disorders. Many cat owners with autoimmune disorders such as stomatitis are feeding their cats dry food not realizing that the carbohydrates in the food are worsening their cat's condition---the carbohydrates convert to sugar feeding the bacteria in the mouth. Moreover, while protein and fats are slow to be digested, the sugar from carbohydrates are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, spiking (and then dropping) insulin making pets hungry faster. Is your dog always acting starved? Could be that your dog is eating a kibble diet loaded with carbohydrates.

In summary, finding the right balance that works for your lifestyle, budget and your pet's well being can be accomplished by choosing different forms of food. If at all possible, try to incorporate something fresh (vegetables or lean protein) into your pet's diet.

Cat Celebrates Sweet 16 With Help From Natural Supplements

"My cat Michy celebrated his sweet 16 last month. Years ago, he was very sick, but now he is a healthy boy. He takes Gastro-ULC, Power Probiotic, Soothing Digestive Relief, Ultra-Flex, Kidney Health, and Renelix."

Marta-Alaska

Michy's Supplements

Power Probiotic - The best probiotic for pets!  Backed by scientific research, this powerful multi-strain formula promotes the growth of friendly bacteria which helps replenish a healthy intestinal ecosystem. Helpful for any pet with digestive discomfort and most pets love the taste too!

Gastro ULC For Acid Stomach in Pets- Natural stomach acid reducer-- relieves acid pain and repairs inflamed tissues.  Use with the K9 Digestive Enzymes and Power Probiotic.

Soothing Digestive-Gentle but effective formula for the treatment of any type of indigestion in pets. Helps with gas, loose stool, mucous in stool, tummy rumbling, diarrhea and malabsorption. Easy to administer

Ultraflex- A gentle formula that is easy to administer and clinically tested to reduce joint stiffness and pain in cats and dogs. It also supports the rebuilding of cartilage and joint connective tissue.Best joint support remedy for small pets.  

Renelix -flushes out the toxins from the kidneys and urinary tract. Helps restore normal kidney and urinary tract function. Use this product if your pet has ever had kidney or bladder stone or crystals or kidney disease or incontinence.  Please know Renelix will NOT break up bladder or kidney stones.

Kidney Health is an all natural, veterinary-approved supplement that provides protein support for cats and dogs enabling them to more efficiently breakdown, digest and metabolize protein. 

The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow: Love & Hope from a Senior Rescue Dog

A longtime friend of Ask Ariel recently launched a special book that I would like to share with you – The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow: Love And Hope from a Senior Rescue Dog.

Author Kelly Nardoni poignantly writes about her journey with Annie, a thirteen-fourteen-year-old poodle mix she adopted from a shelter.  Filled with everyday adventures and thoughtful reflections, Kelly includes many adorable photos of Annie to support the story – all with the goal of encouraging senior pet adoption.

Kelly found that there is something unique about adopting an animal whose years are limited.  It helps us uncover what is really important and to navigate our own humanity. This is a heartwarming story about the beauty of the human-animal bond and the love that endures from such companionship.

For more information and to learn where you can find Kelly’s book, please visit www.kellynardoni.com.  If you purchase directly from her site, a portion of the proceeds will benefit senior pet rescue organizations.