Choosing a Feeding Bowl For Your Pet

How much thought have you given to your pet’s food and water bowls? Pet bowls come in many sizes, colors and styles and of course perform an important function. Here are a few factors to consider when trying to find the right bowl for your pet

For Your Dog

Breed (and size) of your dog.  

Take a look at your dog’s anatomy, tiny breeds (Chihuahuas, Yorkies) would need a small-low sided bowl, but a large breed dog (Golden Retriever, Labs...that wants to lick the bowl clean) will need a large weighted, or rubber edged bowl to accommodate the quantity and avoid it being pushed around. Long eared dogs (Basset Hounds) need a bowl with high sides to keep their ears out and long-nosed (collies, afghan hounds) find it easier to eat from a deeper bowl. However, your shorter faced dogs (pugs, Boston terriers, bulldogs) find a shallow bowl better suited for their needs.

Age
Senior pets and those with arthritis or degenerative joint disease might find it more comfortable to have the bowl raised, rather than bending down.You can find bowls that sit on a pedestal or you could set it on a box or small table.

Material

• Ceramic bowls-  come in every pattern imaginable, they are more fragile and will require you to be a little more careful and make sure they are sealed.
• Plastic bowls- very durable and easy to care for, plus they also come in many different patterns, however some pets may have sensitivity to plastic.
• Stainless bowls- easy care and comes in variety of sizes, but you do not have the same options in patterns.

Decorative Style- what fits your home? It will be part of your life, do you want it to go with your décor or be a doggy pattern.

Other features-do you want one double bowl or two separate?, self-feeder/water bowls, self-feeder with timer (great for busy families). Or do you need a slow feeder bowl to help your dog slow down?

For Your Cat

Many of the same elements apply to cats, but often it is more important on where you feed your cat than in what.  Cats generally prefer a calm, quiet place and often like to eat off the ground (if there is a suitable place) away from small children and other pets.

Why Does My Dog Vomit After Eating?

Q: My beloved rescue dog often vomits after he eats; is it a digestion issue, food issue, or how he eats (he scarfs down his food in no time)… what can I do?

A: You have reason to be concerned. Of course it depends on how soon after and how often this occurs, but scarfing down his food can cause serious health problems.  Eating too fast can cause burping and flatulence (not dangerous, but can be unpleasant), choking, gastric dilatation, or volvulus, which is also known as bloat. Bloat is a condition that needs to be treated by a veterinarian immediately.  It can occur when a dog swallows too much air when they are eating their meals and the distension of the stomach can cause it to twist. This can cause damage to the stomach and even death.

To slow down your dogs eating, you need to determine the cause. Being a rescue dog it could be a case of conditioned competitive eating (often occurs in a shelter situation). If you have another pet, consider feeding them in different locations or times. Feeding your pet regularly will also help them have food security. Also use distraction with positive reinforcement to keep them from the other pet’s bowl can help too.

However, if they are the only pet in the house you can try to change how you are feeding them. Changing the bowl can help.  You can purchase a slow feed pet bowl, or make your own at home version by turning their feeding bowl upside down or using a muffin tin to separate their food to force them to pause. You can also feed smaller, more frequent meals.

Two supplements can greatly improve your dog's digestion.  Power Probiotics for Pets and K9 Digestive Enzymes will help your dog properly digest his food and reduce vomiting instances.   Dogs can suffer from malabsorption and even though they are eating the food quickly, they will not get the benefit of the nutrients if they are not digesting the food properly. 

German Shepherd with Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) Feels Better With Amazing Omegas Fish Oil!

                                                            

  Kiko

"Before we tried Kiko on the Ask Ariel Amazing Omegas, our boy had very dry flaky skin and his hair was very dull and dry. Within 2 weeks of using Amazing Omegas, Kiko has a healthy, thick, shiny, glossy coat of fur. I've also noticed new growth of hair around his elbows, stomach and ears. Thank you to Gina Gould for donating the first bottle for him to try. Ever since,  he has been on them. As a mom of a DM (Degenerative Myelopathy) dog, your products are working amazingly well at keeping our special boy healthy. Thank you Susan Davis and Ask Ariel!!!"
Jennifer Neal, California

Kiko is a rescue dog who needs donations to continue with his care.  To read his story, please visit: http://fnd.us/c/awit2

How to Transtion Your Dog or Cat to a New Food

There may be a variety of reasons why it's important to change your pet’s food.  It could be a health condition, a healthier option or a change in the nutritional needs of your pet. However, your cat or dog’s digestive system is much more sensitive then ours and special consideration should be used when changing their food.  When feeding your pet a new food, introduce it very slowly over 7-10 day period. We recommended the schedule should be ¼ new food with ¾ old food for 3-4 days. If no issues arise,  then increase by ¼ every two days until fully switched to the new food.  Please, keep in mind that if you introduce the new food too quickly, your pet could suffer from an upset stomach, vomiting, gas or diarrhea.  If any of these occur, slow down the process beyond the recommended (reduce the percentage of new food and/or increase days between changes) until the symptoms subside. If your pet's stool is soft, you can add a small amount of  pure canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)  to their food. The added fiber should help firm up their stools.  Also, Power Probiotic and a digestive enzyme such as K9 Digestive Enzymes  will make the transition easier.   

25% new for 3-4 days- 50 %  for 2 days- 75% for 2 days  until 100% new 

10 Year Old Min-Pin Running and Jumping like a Pup!

Ulysse

"Ulysse is our 10 year old Min Pin.  He is a very active little guy, loves to fetch, swim and run (he's done a few 5k with me). He had patella luxation surgery at the age of 2. As he got older, I noticed he was having some pain on his back. We did X-rays multiple times and the vet concluded he has arthritis. We started giving him Tramadol and it did help,to some extent, but I was always concerned about creating other issues in the long run. He had pancreatitis in the past and again Tramadol was given. We also did laser treatments but those stopped working after a couple of months. I started to research supplements and herbs because I  believe natural remedies do work. We tried many others before we ran into askariel.com products. Another min pin mom loved the products so I said well let's give them a try. By then he had taken metacam (not for long because of all the side effects) and I just couldn't do it. 

We decided to give him ARTHROSOOTHE and COLLAGENEX (collagen for pets) it took about one week and we were done with the Tramadol. He stopped growling when we touched his back and he started to jump, climb and run non-stop like a crazy little man that just turn two yrs old instead of 10 years. We just couldn't believe it!!! People at the dog park noticed the difference in his attitude and could tell he was feeling 100% better!!! My old man had turn into a young pup . When winter came along, I was concerned about the cold and his pains, but it didn't faze him. We continued going to the dog park and he  would just run and run and run and play with the snow! His two sisters ( min pin), the other people and I at the dog park couldn't believe him!

We are so grateful we found askariel.com  It changed my Ulysse's life completely!

Ana, Michigan 2015

Which Harness is Best for Your Dog?

 

Back-Clip Harness

Enjoying the great outdoors with your dog can be a special bonding time for both you and your pet, but an out of control, pulling dog can make it a misery (and potentially dangerous).  The use of a body harnesses can be a great tool, it can provide control and comfort for your pet.  They can be especially important to consider for dogs that have pushed-in faces (that restrict breathing), those with trachea or throat problems, and ones with slender necks. For these pets, a traditional leash hooked to their collar can cause them injury or discomfort.  There are many options that vary in style and function. Below lists the pros and cons of the three most common types.

Back-Clip Harness

This type has a ring that the leash will hook to on the top of the dog’s back.  Usually the dog adjusts to the back clip harness easily.

Pros:

·         Easy to put on and comfortable for a dog to wear.

·         Less tangling under the front legs.

·         They protect the fragile neck area.

Cons:

·         They offer little control if a dog has behavior issues, such as pulling on the leash, jumping up or displaying aggression.

Front-Clip Harness

Front-clip harnesses (as the name suggest) clips on the front and is centered on the dog’s chest.  Often trainers will suggest the front-clip harnesses, because they will give the owner more control over pulling, and direction the dog is moving.

Pros:

·         More control over pulling on the leash, jumping up or other poor leash manners

·         Provides the ability to direct the dog

Cons:

·         The leash on the front of the chest can tangle under the dog’s front legs if too much slack is given. 

Tightening Harness

There are variations of the body harnesses that will tighten and add pressure if the dog pulls. The slight tightening can be uncomfortable for the pet, which causes him to lessen or stop the pulling and walk on a looser leash.

Pros:

·         A harnesses that will apply slight pressure to a dog when they pull, but it does not cause pain.

·         They are generally easy to put on a dog.

Cons:

·         The dog doesn’t necessarily learn to walk on a loose leash, only with this type of harness.

·         Some tightening harnesses can feel uncomfortable to your pet. The pet might associate the pain as a negative association with the harness and might fight the usage of the device and/or the activity. 

So You Don't Think Your A "Cat Person"? Consider a Ragdoll!

Ragdolls Characteristics                                 
Adaptability *****
Energy Level ***                           Shedding Level ***
Affection Level *****                    Grooming **
Social Needs *****                        Child Friendly****
Health Issues ***                          Stranger Friendly ***
Dog Friendly*****                         Intelligence ***
(5* being most desirable)

So you don’t think you are a cat person…cats can be antisocial, aloof and nocturnal creatures. However, there are breeds that will welcome (and even crave) your attention. Some you can even train to play games with you.

One such breed is the Ragdoll. They are considered very lovable, easy going, social cats and as their name suggest, they become like a ragdoll when picked up or given attention. They are known to meet you at the door and will be your shadow as they follow you around the house and lucky you, they will keep their kitten like demeanor throughout their life.

They are a large breed, with males reaching up to 20 pounds and females about 15 pounds (at full maturity- by age 4). The life expectancy for a Ragdoll is between 12-15 years. Your ragdoll will require some grooming, but it's a small price to pay for the love and attention they bring.

Ragdolls generally do not have many health issues, but can be predisposed to bladder stones and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) a heart condition where there is regional or diffused thickening of the ventricle wall.
Diet and holistic Care can make a world of difference in your Ragdoll’s quality of life:

• For Bladder stones: Stones (and Urinary Tract Infections that may accompany them) we have found the combination of Renelix, Kidney Health, Quentans and Pet UTI Prevention Formula + Power Probiotic to help. 
• For Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)- heart supporting supplements including Purrfect Pet CoQ10 (a kitty-approved ubiquionol), and Amazing Omegas would help

When considering a new addition to your furry family, take a look at a Ragdoll. Their personality and adaptability might be a perfect fit for your busy life style.