How To Include Antioxidants In Your Pet's Diet

Most most pet owners have heard that antioxidants are important for their pets but don't really understand why. Antioxidants are not another gimic. Pets frequently need extra antioxidants beyond what is in their food. Including antioxidants in their regimen will extend the quality of their lives as well as their longevity. Antioxidants are essential nutrients that slow the destructive aging process on the cellular level. Antioxidants inhibit the oxidation process which creates "free radicals".

How To Give Your Pet Antioxidants
Include "live" fresh food to your pet's diet. This is why we recommend green vegetables, squash, berries and raw frozen diets. Avoid dry food as it lacks enzymes, viable antioxidants and is very high in overprocessed starchy carbs. Since antioxidants and vitamins are lost in cooking, raw freeze dried food is a better choice than dry food, when fresh food isn't possible.
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Golden Retriever With Canine Lymphoma Outlives Prognosis

Riley

"Riley, my wonderful golden retriever and best friend was diagnosed with lymphoma at 6 years old..  He was given 6 months or less to live.  Our oncologist gave me Susan's card and I called her immediately.  She helped me change his diet and suggested supplements that would help.  We did all this and amazingly he lived 18 more months.  He tolerated the chemo extremely well and for a time even went into remission.  The cancer center was so amazed by his progress they named him their "wonder dog" !

Thank you Susan for giving me those 18 months.  They were filled with Riley feeling good, energetic and playful.   We took long walks and runs by the beach and lots of fun play time and of course lots of love.  Riley and I never would have had this time if it were not for Susan's holistic care which used with the cancer treatment gave Harley good quality time."  Cheri, San Diego

Some Of The Products Riley Used: Resveratrol For Dogs, Power Probiotic, Soothing Digestive Relief, Amazing Omegas, Renelix

Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog Teaches Fire Safety

Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog

Meet Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog who with, Dayna Hilton, a certified Fire and Life Safety Educator II and Firefighter II, travels all around the country teaching fire safety to children and their caretakers.  They are part of the Johnson County RFD 1 in Clarksville, Arkansas and they would like you to remember the following safety tips (especially during the busy summer fire season).  

1. Firefighters are your friends and help you stay safe. They have been trained to put out fires and rescue people.

2. Children should stay away from things that are hot which can burn them. Some examples: matches,  lighters, hot stoves, and BBQs to name a few, but there are many other things too.

3. Smoke alarms are there to keep you safe. Be sure yours are properly working.  Make sure children know the sound and that it means to GET OUT!

4. Have an escape map...know two ways to get out of your home or building and have a place outside to meet up.  Make sure it is a safe distance away from your residence.

5. In case of fire, crawl out on your hands and knees, below the smoke, where the air is cleaner and cooler.

You can learn more about Sparkles and fire safety by visiting their website, which has fun videos and activities for children: www.sparklesthefiresafetydog.com

Urgent: Volunteers Needed - LA Animal Services

The Los Angeles Animal Shelters need your help!  YOU can make that life-saving difference by fostering for four days or more or adopting in advance of July 4th.  Unfortunately many pet owners leave their pets outside on July4th and the loud sounds of the fireworks terrify the animals who run in fear.  Many can't find their way home and end up at the municipal shelters.  Over the last three years, the Los Angeles shelters took in over 1,000 animals each year between July 2 and July 6. These pets are counting on us to help reunite them with their families, but often this takes time and that is where your help is needed.  Thus, municipal shelters sadly become a death zone as many animals become euthanized since there is nowhere to put them!  More animals are euthanized during the July 4th holiday period than any other time of the year.  What's worse, is summer overall is the worst time at the shelters as people often go on vacation and decide to relinquish their pet to avoid having to pay for boarding......again, causing the shelters to have a huge influx of animals.

The LA shelter has wonderful dogs and cats of all ages, breeds and sizes waiting to be your temporary companion or best friend forever.   When you offer to temporarily foster, you are saving two lives, the pet you are caring for and the pet who was given a space at the shelter.

To volunteer to foster, print your application at LAAnimalServices.com/foster or go to the Los Angeles Animal Shelter nearest you and ask for a Foster Volunteer application.  Take your completed form to the shelter nearest you.  You can also view some of the wonderful dogs and cats that are available for the Foster Program on the LA Animal Services Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/LAAnimalServices   For more information, please call:  (888) 452-7381.  If you don't live in Los Angeles and would like to help homeless pets in your area, please look up the nearest location of an animal shelter near you.  An animal's life is depending upon you!

Locations of LA Animal Services Shelters: 

South LA, Chesterfield Square Shelter

1850 W. 60th St., Los Angeles, 90047

West LA Shelter

11361 Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, 90064

West Valley Shelter

20655 Plummer St., Chatsworth, 91311

East Valley Shelter

14409 Vanowen St., Van Nuys, 91405

Harbor Shelter

957 N. Gaffey St., San Pedro, 90731

North Central Shelter

3201 Lacy St., Los Angeles, 90031

Natural Treatments For Autoimmune Disease in Dogs and Cats

Autoimmune disease is common in cats and dogs. Pets can have unusual, seemingly unrelated symptoms making it difficult to diagnose. Examples: stomatitis, IBD, Pillow Paw. Steroids are the most common treatment but with an anti-inflammatory, low carb diet and a few supplements, you can greatly improve your pet's well being and reduce the need for steroids. Please click on the link to read our newsletter about natural treatments for autoimmune disease in dogs and cats.

Have a question about your pet?  Email us at support@askariel.com  Please know we cannot provide any veterinary or consultative advice but we will be happy to provide you with articles so that you can make an informed decision about your pet's next steps.

Couldn't Wait To Get My Ask Ariel Package Today!

This kitty couldn't wait to receive her Ask Ariel Pet Supplements Today!

A Natural, Holistic Boutique For A
Happy And Healthy Pet!

AskAriel.com 

Keep your pets happy and healthy with the best supplements for dogs and cats!  Ask Ariel's supplements have been used in veterinary hospitals since 2005. 

Have a question about your pet?  Send an email to support@askariel.com and our pet nutrition experts will be happy to assist you.  Please know we cannot provide veterinary advice but will be happy to include links to articles about how to treat a variety of pet conditions using natural supplements along with diet changes.

Join us now on Instagram! Be sure to follow @Ask.Ariel for cute pet pictures, a fun forum of followers and helpful pet health tips.
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Food Allergies in Cats

 Did you know?  Many cats are allergic to or intolerant of both fish and poultry? Why is this an issue? The reason this is important is that most pet owners don't even know that it is the fish and poultry contributing to their cats illness. Is your cat vomiting, having diarrhea, suffering from chronic UTIs, stomatitis or Upper Respiratory Infections? If so then consider a "novel protein" diet. A novel protein is a protein source your cat hasn't eaten before such as venison or rabbit. Once an intolerant or allergic food is eliminated, your cat's immune system will get stronger. Of course, in transitioning diets, be sure the new novel protein diet is grain-free and use raw frozen, canned or freeze dried to eliminate the starchy carbs.  To read the entire article, click here

Add Vegetables to Your Pet's Diet

Pets need real, fresh vegetables in their diet. Not the fake kind with food coloring made to fool you into thinking you are giving your pet real nutrition. Both cats and dogs can benefit from carrots, greens and pumpkin. Vegetables may be served steamed, chopped, puréed or raw depending upon your pet's digestion and appetite. Vegetables offer vitamins, minerals, fiber, enzymes and antioxidants all of which can not only boost their health but can make them feel more satisfied after eating. Raw frozen diets for pets contain a wide variety of fresh vegetables. 

Click here to learn more about raw frozen diets that contain fresh vegetables for dogs and cats. 

Perception, Communication And The Link Between Autism And Animals

 This article was contributed by guest author:  Dr. Lynette Gebler 

“I’m suspicious of people who don’t like dogs, but I trust a dog when it doesn’t like a person.”

Are dogs more sensitive to human nature or do they simply perceive the world in a different manner such as those with autism?  In the book Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior, by Temple Grandin, Grandin examines the surprising similarities between an animal’s mind and an autistic mind.  Autism is a neurological disorder with various theories on causation. Scientists who study autism believe that the disorder is caused by under development of certain brain circuits, and over development of other brain circuits. The imbalance of the nervous system results in the common symptoms you see in autism such as speech delays, sound and texture sensitivities and developmental delays.  Grandin observes that people with autism, 'are closer to animals than normal people are.' Grandin contributes the differences between typical human mentality and animal mentality, not as a matter of IQ but as a matter of perception and emotion.

 Grandin, autistic herself, states that she has no language based thoughts; all of her thoughts are in pictures. Since animals do not have verbal language and many children with autism are non-verbal, memories and thoughts are stored as pictures, sounds, or other sensory impressions. Sensory-based information by its very nature is more detailed than word-based memories; therefore animals may understand intentions, emotions, images, or thoughts behind the words, even if the words themselves aren't totally understood. You may also observe an animal “sensing” something  before a human and thus dogs can even be trained to alert others to seizures and illness. Primarily, animals and people with autism are visual thinkers; while most people use a combination of verbal and visual skills for communication.  

We would all love to communicate better with our pets and that communication strengthens our bond with them.  Grandin, who is an expert in animal behavior, claims that her autism helps her understand and empathize with animals.  Grandin is also a professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University, an advocate in the autism community and an activist for the humane treatment of animals.

Are Topical Flea Killers Safe For Our Pets?

This is what topical flea killer did to our brand new wall and tile! Please understand that whenever possible I will always try all natural and holistic ways to address a health problem first. Where we live  it can get very humid making it a prime breeding ground for fleas. Sure enough yesterday, I discovered my sweet husky Legend had, in a matter of hours, created a giant hotspot on his hip from a flea bite. We have tried everything natural including years of $500 treatments of Fleabusters on carpets perfectly timed before the hot weather started. But nothing has worked. Since Legend eats a hypoallergenic diet and takes supplements for allergies, the only culprit is fleas!!! I hated to do it but on the advice of several vets, we concluded that the best thing for my severely allergic dog is to use a smaller size doze of Advantage for the few worst months. Anguished about this, I applied the vial in between Legend's shoulder blades as directed. It should have absorbed in but I guess he rubbed against our freshly painted wall and limestone tile. About a half hour later, I noticed that the paint on the wall had eroded and that something had penetrated through the protective sealant on the tile!! It took me awhile to figure out what it was and then I realized---yukkk it was the Advantage. If it did this to paint and tile, what does it do to our pets? Does anyone know of anything less harsh that works to keep the fleas away? We have tried many treatments and the natural stuff unfortunately just hasn't been strong enough. Please know we even had our entire house tented last year but the warm weather and humidity bring the bugs!

Is Your Dog Always Starved? How To Help Your Ravenous Dog Feel More Satiated

 

Does your pet act STARVED all the time? Always looking for food? While a good appetite is a sign of a healthy pet, never feeling satisfied can also be indicative of a diet that is too high in carbohydrates. Say what? To keep costs down, most pet foods use fillers such as potatoes, rice, grains and legumes. This is especially true in dry dog food. Ever eat just cereal or a pastry for breakfast and find you are starved an hour later? Same concept. Diets high in carbohydrates cause your pet's insulin to spike causing a drop in blood sugar which creates excess hunger. Insulin spikes lead to excess hunger and excess eating which contributes to obesity. Protein on the other hand is more stabilizing and keeps your pet's blood sugar regulated.

Here are three tips to help keep your pet feel more satisfied:

1) Add green vegetables to meals. You can purée them for small or finicky pets. Green vegetables are low glycemic fiber which helps your pet feel more full and helps regulate blood sugar.

2) Feed at least two regularly scheduled meals each day. If possible give your pet some treats or a small lunch.

3) Increase the protein in your pet's diet. Look at the label on your pet's food. If it's dry food, then your pet may be getting too many carbs and not enough protein. Be sure to add some high quality grain-free canned food or ideally raw frozen food. Limit or eliminate dry kibble if possible. Freeze dried raw food is also high in protein and a little goes a long way.
 

Beware of These Harmful Ingredients In Your Pet's Food and Treats

**Alert** Beware of Sharks in your pet's food and treats. Ever look at the label? There could be harmful ingredients lurking which could attack your pet's health. Here are just a few examples:

1) sugars--yes plenty of dog and cat treats contain sugar and molasses which contribute to gum disease, chronic infections, obesity, diabetes and even cancer. Sugar is included to disguise the taste of low quality ingredients and to entice your pet to eat more.

2) meat or animal by-product meal--contains unidentified sick, diseased animals, roadkill and worse--make sure your pet's food and treats always specifies what type of animal the food came from and avoid byproducts 

3) food coloring and dyes--many treats are colored to look like their fresh food counterparts. Ex: some treats are dyed red to look like real meat or bacon or orange to look like real carrots.

Better to give your pet the real food ingredient, not the chemicals. Rescue dog Legend says: "You are what you eat!"

Enzymes For Cats With Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis in cats is a condition that requires immediate attention by a veterinarian. Cats can develop chronic or acute pancreatitis. Symptoms may be subtle initially and easy to miss. Symptoms include include loss of appetite, fever, weight loss, dehydration, fatigue, depression, and increased heart rate. If your kitty displays these symptoms or just isn't acting like herself, please contact your veterinarian right away as pancreatitis can be fatal.

Cats require both short-term and long-term treatment of pancreatitis. Short-term, fluid therapy will be needed for cats that are diagnosed with pancreatitis. Food may need to be withheld for up to 48 hours if the cat is vomiting. Your veterinarian may also prescribe corticosteroids and metronidazole for chronic pancreatitis. Long-term, cats that have had a bout of pancreatitis need to eat a reduced fat, anti-inflammatory diet free of grains. Also, using digestive enzymes specific for pancreatitis is essential. Lypozyme for Pets is a powerful yet small, easy to administer powdered natural enzyme that can be mixed into food. It is veterinary-approved and has a stronger potency and purity than digestive enzymes purchased at a pet store. Cats will generally eat it readily as it has minimal taste and odor. Since the liver and intestinal tract are integrally related to the health of the pancreas, using the Power Probiotic and Liver/Gallbladder Support will help your kitty's pancreatic function and overall health. These three products are included in the Pancreatitis and Liver Support Kit  at a discounted package price. If you provide your cat's diet and heath issues, we can include a low-fat, anti-inflammatory diet that is appropriate for your kitty on the packing slip that comes with the product directions

If your cat has been diagnosed with pancreatitis and you need help, please email us at support@askariel.com

Many Cats And Dogs Can Live Together Peacefully

There might be some truth to the phrase “fighting like cats and dogs” and it might even lead you to believe that cats and dogs cannot live together, but that is simply not true! Many cats can coexist and even have a strong bond with their canine companion, especially when they are raised together from an early age.  Some breeds such as Siberian Huskies may view cats as prey and so the combination isn't generally a great idea but there are plenty of cases where it has worked when the husky was raised from puppyhood with a cat.  Other breeds such as Golden Retrievers and Labradors don't seem to have an issue at all.  It all just depends upon the breed, temperament of the pets and age at which they are brought together.  For the most part, many cats and dogs can live a happy life together!

Natural Treatments For Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) in Pets

Our hearts go out to the Kim family on their loss of sweet Freckles who passed away from Canine Congestive Heart Failure.

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is when the heart cannot deliver enough blood to the body and fluid backs up into a pet’s lungs and abdomen, putting pressure on the heart. It is a progressive disease that can be caused by a variety of reasons, including: high blood pressure, heart defects, heartworms to name a few.  Unfortunately, in most cases, CHF cannot be cured. However,  you can provide treatment for your pet which can help improve their life span and quality of life.

Symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

• Easily tiring after exercise
• Bluish discoloration of the tongue
• Sudden collapse
• Difficulty breathing
• A persistent dry cough
• Accumulation of fluid in the lungs, leg or abdomen
• May have a hard time settling down (especially at night)
• Fainting or dementia due to lack of blood flow to the brain

Natural heart supplements for dogs and cats can help your pet with heart murmurs and congestive heart failure:
 
Amazing Omegas -  purified fish oil delivering therapeutically high levels of Omegas without the toxins

Purrfect Pet CoQ10 - these softgels use an advanced technology that provides an efficient and natural method of nutrient delivery, offering enhanced absorption and assimilation versus ordinary capsules and tablets containing Coenzyme Q10.

Resveratrol for Dogs--  exceptional antioxidant formula backed by research that is cardio-protective and has been shown in cancer research to help fight cancer   

Have a question about your pet? Please email us at support@askariel.com

Why Feed Your Pet A Grain-Free Diet?

You may be seeing a lot of pet food coming out with the "grain-free" label but may not understand what the hype is all about.  Here is a summary of why it's best to avoid grains in your cat or dog's food and treats:

What are grains? 

Grains are small, hard, dry seeds, with or without attached hulls or fruit layers, harvested for human or animal consumption.

Examples of grains in pet food:
--Rice
--Quinoa
--Corn
--Wheat
--Barley
--Wheat Gluten
--Rye
--Oats, oatmeal    
 
Why are grains found in pet food?
Cereal grains  are durable and when chemical preservatives are added, have a very long shelf life.  Grains contain some protein but are exceptionally high in starchy carbohydrates.   They can be easily mass processed and used as "fillers" in pet foods to add calories and protein at a fraction of the cost of adding meat, fish or poultry.  Even organic grains are overprocessed and high in carbohydrates.  Bottom line:  pet food brands include grains to provide calories and boost the protein level while minimizing the cost of expensive animal proteins.

Why are grains problematic for pets? 

Cereal grains can cause inflammation and an allergic response in many pets.  Symptoms of an allergic or inflammatory response can manifest in different ways.  A dog might be scratching and itching and a cat might be vomiting. Grains are high in starchy carbohydrates which can contribute to yeast overgrowth, a weakened immune system, diabetes and even cancer.

Feeding a high moisture, hypoallergenic, low carbohydrate diet such as a raw frozen diet is preferable and can eliminate a lot of the health symptoms you may be seeing with your pet that is eating a dry food with grains.  Remember, cats are carnivores and have no use for carbohydrates and dogs fare best on a low carbohydrate diet.

Brands That Contain Grains

Most pet foods contain grains unless they specify otherwise.  Here are just a few examples:

Diamond Dry Dog Food

Hills Science Diet

Iams

Purina Dog Chow

Royal Canin
Most "Prescription" Diets 
Many Kirkland dry foods

But aren't grains ok if they are organic?

Many pet owners assume feeding ingredients such as organic brown rice, organic barley and organic millet are beneficial for their pet because they are "organic".  Organic grains are much better suited for a vegetarian animal such as a rabbit, horse or cow.  Grains, even if organic, present the same health issues for cats and dogs as any other grains.

What is a grain-free diet?

A grain-free diet is often not a carbohydrate-free diet.  Many pet foods will remove the grains only to replace them with other high carbohydrate ingredients such as potatoes, rice, and peas.  This is why we don't recommend feeding your cat or dog dry kibble. To learn more, please read our article Facts You Should Know About Dry Dog Food and Cat Food.  Over the years, we have seen dogs and cats feel best eating a combination of any of the following:  frozen raw diets, canned food diets, freeze dried raw diets, homemade vegetables and/or lean proteins mixed in.

Have a question about your cat or dog's diet?  Please visit www.AskAriel.com and review our complete library of pet nutrition articles.  

Reading to The Pet Dog Helps Kids Learn

It has been shown that children reading to a dog can improve their reading skills, self esteem and have an overall increase in positive feelings associated with reading.  Many children are very self-conscious about reading aloud.  A dog is non-judgmental and it allows the child to focus on practicing the art of reading.  Reading to the pet dog helps kids learn!

Update:  After publishing our own post on this adorable topic, we since learned that the Laguna Niguel Library offers a Tales for Tails event on the 2nd Monday of every month where children can come and read aloud to trained therapy dogs.  This allows them to build their confidence and reading skills.  To learn more, please contact the Laguna Niguel library 949-249-5252.  The next event is Monday May 8 at 4:00 pm.

Best Kidney Supplements For Cats With Renal Failure

We wanted to share this testimonial from years ago as the same products that are helping cats with renal failure today were helping cats many years back.  These are the best kidney supplements for cats with renal failure.  They have proven themselves over time to work consistently for many cats.  The kidney remedies have the best chance to help when a kitty is just diagnosed but can still relieve symptoms in an older cat that has had the disease for awhile.  If your cat is experiencing symptoms of chronic renal failure (crf) such as vomiting, weight loss, lethargy, inappetance, please bring your cat to the veterinarian immediately for laboratory testing.  Most cats with kidney disease are dehydrated and need fluid therapy.

Tuesday Testimonial 2010: "I ordered herbs for Ranger, my 14 year old cat, on Friday Jan 29th. To my great surprise, they arrived here in Upstate NY on Monday Feb 1st! Ranger, my kitty was near death. She hid to sleep constantly. Usually cats hide to die. She was in really bad shape. I had one cat die of liver disease and two others from renal failure. Ranger is my third cat with renal failure so I know how they act before they die. Anyhow, Ranger was near death on Feb 1st when your supplements arrived. I ordered  Renelix, Kidney Health (and a few other kidney support products.) I gave them to her but assumed she was probably too far gone by this time and I was kicking myself for having waited too long. However, after 3 -4 days, she started eating more, was more alert, sleeping less and feeling so much better. I know she isn't cured...but your supplements are giving her more quality time with me. For that, I am truly grateful. I know she is 14 but I can possibly see that if she stays the same as she is now, maybe she will be around awhile more. THANK YOU!!!!!" Daniel   New York

Aug. 2011 (1 1/2 years later):  "My Kitty Ranger is still alive thanks to the wonderful products you sell.  She is now 15 1/2 years old."

Find Your Perfect Pet on Petfinder.com

If you work full time, why not consider adopting a second pet through www.petfinder.com? There is a dog or cat of every size, breed, age and color just waiting for you to come rescue them. Looking online is great but you can also view homeless animals at shelters and many rescue groups show them at stores such as PetSmart and adoption events.  You can find your perfect pet through petfinder.com or any other rescue organization.  It is a misnomer that rescue pets have something wrong with them.  Rescued animals have no control over their lives and are in this unfortunate situation due to the circumstances of their owners. 

Have a question about your pet? Email us at support@askariel.com

A Bonded Pair of Kittens Leads To a Healthier Cat

Kittens are high energy, curious and crave constant stimulation. Kittens are active at night and a single kitten may awaken you with jumping, pouncing and other hunting behavior. However, two kittens will occupy each other by finding interesting shadows to chase and games to play until they finally tire and fall asleep, too. Kittens who are able to remain with one of their littermates or a similarly-aged companion tend to be healthier and happier, and in the long run, better socialized pets.  If you are looking to get a kitten or cat in the future, adopting a pair will be a healthier and happier life for both you and your pets.

Thank you to @myfosterkittens for letting sharing these great photos with us!

Have a question about your cat?   Email us at support@askariel.com

How To Find Pet Nutrition Advice on Instagram

Join us now on Instagram! Be sure to follow @Ask.Ariel for cute pet pictures, videos and pet health tips.
www.instagram.com/ask.ariel

A Natural, Holistic Boutique For A
Happy & Healthy Pet!

AskAriel.com 

Have a question about your pet? Ask Ariel's supplements have been used in veterinary hospitals since 2005.  Send an email to support@askariel.com and our pet nutrition experts will be happy to assist you.  Please know we cannot provide veterinary advice but will be happy to include links to articles about how to treat a variety of pet conditions using natural supplements along with diet changes.

Special Needs Dog With MegaEsophagus Is a Happy Dog!

Meet Wrangler!  He is feeling so happy all dressed up for Easter. Wrangler is a special needs dog rescued by the wonderful Leashes of Love Rescue, Inc. who saved him even though he has a life threatening condition. His awesome Mommy Gina Gina Gould gives him 24 hour care so that he can live a happy life with lots of love! Wrangler has a feeding tube in his tummy because if he aspirates the food he could suffocate. But in spite of all this, he lives a wonderful life playing and hanging out with his family and doggie friends. Just wanting to say thanks to ALL the wonderful rescuers who dedicate their time, money, love and energy helping pets like Wrangler and saving the lives of so many animals that would otherwise perish!

Pet Fooled--Investigative Documentary About What's Really In Pet Food

Click Here for Trailer

Do you really know what's in your pet's food? Are the ingredients in there because they are good for your pet or because the pet food industry has "sold" you on what your pet should eat?  Buyer Beware: Good advertising does not equal good ingredients.  In fact some of the best pet foods may be from brands you might not be familiar with because these smaller companies invest in quality ingredients and not in large scale promotions.  Marketing in the pet food industry can be especially deceptive and is made to appeal to you the consumer---making it easy, affordable and convenient for you to keep buying the food--regardless of whether or not it is actually good for your pet.  You might unknowingly be giving your pet treats and food that contains harmful ingredients even though the label might say "all-natural" "precisely balanced" or "nourishing". 

Pet Fooled is a new investigative documentary about the the pet food industry. The inspiration for the investigative documentary, Pet Fooled (co-produced by Kohl Harrington and Michael Fossat) came from a passing comment made by Fossat’s groomer suggesting his dog’s itchy skin could be diet-related. The comment lead them on a six year journey of research and production that lead to an eye opening 71 minute film.  The film features everything from heartbreaking stories of pet owners who lost their pets from tainted jerky treats, examples of misleading information from pet food companies and pet industry lobbyist groups, and valuable information from holistic veterinarians. To view the movie, Pet Fooled is now available on most digital platforms (e.g., itunes, netflix, Hulu, Vimeo, Xbox, Amazon, etc.)

What To Do If Your Dog Lies Down While You Are Out On A Walk

You are walking along and your dog decides he has had enough and lies down and won’t move. What to do? If it is a sudden onset, see if you observe anything new with your pet's gait, limping, holding up a paw, panting excessively, abnormal breathing?   Do what you can to slowly bring your pet home and contact your vet right away.  if your pet is too sick to go back home, see if you can get emergency help from a neighbor or passerby.    A sudden onset of a pet not wanting to walk can be a sign of an injury or your pet not feeling well, especially in an older pet.   The most common veterinary problems that can lead to this behavior are knee problems, torn ligaments, excessive fatigue (or heat), heart issues and arthritis (especially in older dogs).  

Your veterinarian will examine your dog, take XRAYS and make a diagnoses.  Many times it could just be a sign that your dog has arthritis, a temporary injury or hip dysplasia.  But, it can be something more serious such as a disc injury or even cancer which will require further testing.   Sometimes medications are needed initially to relieve your pet's discomfort.  However, if it is due to arthritis, soft-tissue injury, then ArthroStride can reduce inflammation and help your pet get moving again.  

On occasion, some dogs may not want to go on a walk for behavioral reasons.  This can occur if the dog is carried most of the time, is afraid of something or had a negative experience on a walk (a dog bit or attacked them).  You can try coaxing your dog by taking them to a new environment to walk, using treats and building up their confidence over time.  Professional trainers are also helpful in this situation and can provide many tips as well.