Question: My dog regurgitates 95 percent of the time after she eats her “breakfast,” the first meal of the day. There’s never a problem after she eats other meals. She’s now on a special diet, but that hasn’t helped.

My vet suggested a surgery to cut the sphincter muscle. Does this make sense to you? — T. M., Orlando, Fla.

Dr. Colin Burroughs, an internal medicine specialist and chair of the small animal clinical science department at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, says the surgery you speak of requires cutting the muscle at the junction of the stomach and small intestine. It’s an appropriate surgery when that muscle has grown too much, and won’t relax, therefore preventing the stomach from emptying.

However, this condition, called pyloric hypertrophy, is typically seen in only a few breeds, mostly miniature and toy dogs. Also, dogs with this condition usually vomit several hours after eating, as opposed to immediately after a meal. “Consider verifying the diagnosis with a board-certified specialist in internal medicine,” Burroughs said.

Your dog may simply be scarfing down her first meal too fast. Try feeding her that first meal from Kong, Busy Buddy or Dogzilla toys. These are toys that you pour kibble into. Dogs have to roll the toys for the kibble to fall out. Aside from being fun, it’ll slow down your dog’s eating habits since only a few pieces of kibble fall out of the toys at a time. If your dog is on moist food, split up her morning meal into four portions and place each part in a dish in various places around the house.

Aside from the fun of searching out her food — and additional exercise — she’ll be able to inhale only a quarter of the food she did previously. There’s no downside to slowing down her food intake, and doing so might just solve your dog’s problem.

This article originally appeared at WebVet.com with the title “Why Does Our Dog Vomit After Breakfast?” It was written by Steve Dale and reviewed by Amy I. Attas, V.M.D. Photo: CowCopTim/Flickr

Source: Dog Frequently Vomits After First Meal of the Day

Written by WebVet Copyright 2012, Pets Adviser® pet advice.

Chinese ingredients are back in the news again, as pet food products are once again “suspected” of causing health problems. No surprise. As Pets Adviser has now covered in great detail, tainted ingredients are a disaster just waiting to happen (again).

Most recently, on November 18, the FDA announced that an outbreak of sick and dying dogs may have been caused by chicken jerky pet treats that were imported from China. The treats are also sold as chicken tenders, chicken strips or just plain chicken-flavored pet treats.

Here’s what the FDA said in a news release:

“In the last 12 months, FDA has seen an increase in the number of complaints it received of dog illnesses associated with consumption of chicken jerky products imported from China.”

The rather vague statement concludes by saying that the FDA has launched an investigation, be careful, blah blah blah. It provided no brand names, but we’ve heard complaints about a brand called Waggin’ Train Chicken Tenders (from Costco and PetSmart, etc.).

Sorta, Kinda Investigating

Here’s the deal: The FDA is outright admitting that it has been sitting and watching as complaints have rolled in over the past year, and is only now half-assedly sort of, kind of doing something about it. Contrast this with what Pets Adviser has been saying for some time now — that the situation is critical.

In 2007 thousands of dogs and cats were killed because of tainted ingredients sourced from China — notably melamine, otherwise known as a fire retardant and a plastic used in cheap lawn chairs. In all, 60 million packages of pet foods were recalled. Yikes. More than four years after that catastrophe, many pet owners now assume that new, stronger regulations are in place to protect them.

Not true.

While it’s true that melamine — “suspected” of being the 2007 culprit — is now virtually gone from most pet foods, it’s also unfortunately true that manufacturers have been creating dangerous new ways to cut corners and save money by introducing ingredients such as a “hydrolyzed leather protein,” made from scraps of leather.

Here’s just a brief list of recent blocked imports from China — stuff that the FDA actually did somehow manage to catch before it reached us:

• Chewing leather strips (dog toys) — apparently contained Salmonella (October 2011)
• “Gourmet” pet treats — melamine contamination (September 2011)
• Pet treats — melamine (January 2010)
• Animal food additive — melamine (November 2010)
• Pet fish food — melamine (August 2010)
• Rawhide dog chews — melamine (July 2010)

The FDA uses words like “filthy,” “putrid” and “poisonous” in its descriptions of blocked imports from China.

Chew on These Numbers

Here are some cold hard facts.

• Did you know that over the past decade, Chinese food imports into America have tripled?
• Were you aware that 70 percent of dog and cat food products in the United States were imported from China?
• Finally… the scary part: Did you know that a mere 1 to 2 percent (at most!) of foodstuff imported to the United States from China is ever inspected at our borders?

In fact, Chinese pet food ingredients are so widespread that they are in virtually every pet food on the market in the United States. Pets Adviser did an investigation this year that showed that even top-shelf brands contain ingredients sourced from China.

Read ALL About It!

To get your hands on our FULL, new five-page investigation into Chinese ingredients in pet food, simply subscribe (it’s totally FREE) to Pets Adviser by email, and you’ll get instant free access to the complete report, in a beautiful PDF format that you can print out and save. Simply use the quick form below:

Additional Resources

• FDA: Caution on chicken jerky products
• Food & Water Watch: A decade of dangerous food imports from China [PDF]
• Ask a Vet Question: Chicken jerky recall 2011
• Food Safety News: More on chicken jerky pet treat alert

Source: Chinese Pet Food Ingredients Back in the News – No Big Surprise

Written by David Deleon Baker Copyright 2012, Pets Adviser® pet advice.

Your dog is what your dog eats. So if your pup is chowing down on cheap kibble that is mostly nutritionless filler, nauseating byproducts and dangerous chemicals, you might be giving your pet a lifetime of health complications.

It’s a stinky fact: Dogs fed unhealthy table scraps or low-grade pet food tend to be extremely gassy. Phew! Is it any wonder that the problem clears up immediately after you switch to a better food?

Now ponder this statistic: A staggering 54 percent of dogs in the United States are overweight or obese, according to a recent study by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, and that number continues to grow. It’s an epidemic.

Let’s face it; dog nutrition can be a complicated subject. But if you want a straightforward, no-nonsense, easy way to determine which dog foods to eliminate from your top choices, here is one easy tip…

Take a look at the dog food label, and if you see any, and we mean ANY, of the following 7 phrases, move on to the next product, without reservation:

1. Byproduct
2. Animal fat
3. Animal digest
4. Beet pulp
5. Ethoxyquin
6. BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole)
7. BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene)

Again, if you see any of those on the ingredients list, move on to another brand. This is just one way to easily narrow down which commercial dog food is best for your pup.

For more tips on dog food, check out Pets Adviser’s brand-new book, No-Nonsense Dog Nutrition.

Source: 1 Easy Tip to Pick Out the Best Dog Food

Written by Pets Adviser Copyright 2012, Pets Adviser® pet advice.

I recently changed my shih-tzu’s brand of food to Wellness 1+1. It is one carb and one protein all-natural lamb and brown rice. He was on a different brand of lamb and brown rice before this, and his poop size was substantial for a 14 pound dog. But now he only has rabbit pellets or noticeably smaller poops. He seems OK and has a poop at least once a day and is still active and playful. Could it be because there are fewer by-products in his new food? Should I be worried? How can I tell if this is a problem? —Mandy

Better Dog Food, Less Poop

Congratulations, Mandy — you are experiencing one of the many wonderful results of feeding your dog an excellent diet. Better dog food, less dog poop!

The reason is simple: Without fillers and empty carbs, your doggie absorbs and utilizes more nutrients, which means there’s less waste. Less waste = less poop.

Of course, in your situation, it depends on what food you switched to Wellness from. If it was of similar quality, then it could be that your dog processes the new food’s formula differently.

“Bone Poop”

If picking up less poop is as important to you as feeding your dog the very best diet, then you might switch to a raw diet, which consists of raw meat, bones, fruits and vegetables, with no grains or saturated fats. A healthy, balanced raw diet may provide a shinier coat, whiter teeth, freshened breath and poo that you’ll find to be small, hard, white, chalky and almost odor-free (we call it “bone poop”).

There’s no need to worry unless your dog is straining and having difficulty pooping. This can sometimes be an issue with harder stool, even if it’s small. If you do notice your dog having a tough time pooping, add a tablespoon of canned pumpkin to each of his meals. If the condition persists, it’s time to contact your veterinarian.

Photo: lightninglandon/Flickr

Every week, we answer questions from our readers. If you’d like to submit a question, please contact us.

Source: Better Dog Food, Less Poop

Written by Tamar Love Grande Copyright 2012, Pets Adviser® pet advice.

Good Dog Food vs. Bad Dog Food

Some of the most popular mass-market dog foods are also the worst for your dogs.

The catchy commercials on TV might be adorable, and they might persuade you that the food is of good quality, but in reality the most common brands score very low on the nutritional scale.

To illustrate the point, let’s compare the ingredients of a bad dog food — Walmart’s best-selling pet food Ol’ Roy — with the ingredients in a great dry dog food.

Ol’ Roy Complete Nutrition

Despite Walmart’s claims that its Ol’ Roy line features “high-quality ingredients” and “quality protein,” this cheapo brand is generally regarded as the worst dog food on the market. Yes, it’s easy on your wallet, but so what? Would you expect your children to subsist on a diet of McDonald’s? Just look at these awful ingredients:

Ground yellow corn, meat and bone meal, soybean meal, chicken by-product meal, wheat middlings, animal fat (preserved with BHA and citric acid), natural flavor, brewers rice, salt, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, choline chloride, color added (titanium dioxide, yellow #5, yellow #6, red #40, blue #2), zinc sulfate, vitamin E supplement, ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, niacin, copper sulfate, vitamin A supplement, biotin, manganous oxide, calcium pantothenate, vitamin B12 supplement, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K activity), riboflavin supplement, sodium selenite, calcium iodate, folic acid, vitamin D-3 supplement, cobalt carbonate

The first ingredient is corn — which dogs have a difficult time digesting. It’s one of the most commonly used fillers in low-quality food. (Why? Because corn is cheap, and big companies make more money by being cheap.) Next up is an unnamed “meat” and unspecified bone meal, which could be anything from goat parts to road kill to euthanized pets. The soybean meal is a poor-quality filler used to boost the protein content — yet more filler. As for chicken byproduct meal, well it could pretty much mean anything… except a quality protein source.

Middlings are essentially floor sweepings with no nutritional value. The last main ingredient is animal fat (yuck), just as nebulous as chicken byproduct meal.

Orijen 6 Fresh Fish With Sea Vegetables

Now let’s examine the ingredients list for a high-quality dog food, Orijen 6 Fresh Fish. Feast your eyes on this:

Fresh boneless salmon, salmon meal, herring meal, fresh boneless herring, fresh boneless walleye, russet potato, sweet potato, peas, salmon oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), fresh boneless lake whitefish, sun-cured alfalfa, fresh boneless flounder, fresh boneless northern pike, pea fiber, organic kelp, pumpkin, carrots, spinach, turnip greens, apples, cranberries, blueberries, licorice root, angelica root, fenugreek, marigold flowers, sweet fennel, peppermint leaf, chamomile, dandelion, summer savory, rosemary, vitamin A, vitamin D3, vitamin E, niacin, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine, folic acid, biotin, -vitamin B12, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, selenium yeast, lactobacillus acidophilus, enterococcus faecium

The differences between Orijen and Ol’ Roy are immediately noticeable. Besides the six different types of fish, there’s good meat in meal form (salmon meal, herring meal). There are zero grains, which is fantastic because grains are not a natural part of the canine diet. There is quite a range of fruits and vegetables here as well as probiotics. Though you won’t find this info on the label, Orijen products are free of China-sourced ingredients, which is another huge plus.

This article is adapted from Pets Adviser’s new book, No-Nonsense Dog Nutrition.

Source: Good Dog Food vs. Bad Dog Food

Written by David Deleon Baker Copyright 2012, Pets Adviser® pet advice.

As I sit at my table enjoying my morning cup of coffee, I glance out my kitchen window. Lo and behold, there is Bunker, my pit bull, attempting to bury the chicken bone I gave him earlier.

Why do dogs bury their food? I faithfully feed my dogs twice a day, and quite often throw in a snack between feedings. So what gives dogs the urge to bury some of the food?

Why Do Dogs Bury Food?

According to the book Why Do Dogs Do That?, wild dogs learn early in life that food may be hard to come by. So when they find a feast, they do the smart thing: bury some of it to enjoy later. It’s kind of like setting up a “food bank.” This practice is called caching. Wolves and foxes also share this behavior.

So, maybe domesticated dogs are already equipped with the innate notion that being fed regularly is a sign of leaner times coming. They may bury food so they can be assured of having something to munch on later. Not to worry, though: A canine’s digestive system is built for eating foods that have been buried a while.

Even Indoor Dogs “Bury” Stuff

An indoor dog may hide a bone or piece of food under throw rugs or furniture cushions. This is common behavior. Dogs have pretty good memories, so it’s a safe bet they’ll be back later to retrieve their buried treat.

Witness this dalmatian in bone-burying action:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFEw9jdRcy4

If a dog does not feel safe at the moment, he may tend to bury his food — which is a way to keep others from getting those morsels before he can eat them. Meanwhile, shy dogs might prefer eating alone. If other animals are around, they may choose to bury their food simply so they can enjoy it later.

Although you may assume that food hoarding is caused by your pet’s dislike of certain foods, chances are if he doesn’t like something he just won’t eat it.

Health Problem? Not Likely

Medical problems of any nature are not likely reasons for the food-burying habit. Animals with a health problem will generally ignore their food completely. If they don’t feel well enough to eat it, they certainly can’t muster up enough strength to bury it.

So, if you’re wondering why do dogs bury their food, rest assured that in most cases it is simply a combination of your dog’s personality and certain territorial factors.

In the off chance that food hiding is an ongoing problem with your pet, try feeding in a different location or maybe at a different time.

***

Once more I look out to see what Bunker is up to now. I see him relaxing under the shade of a tree. He seems to relish in the fact that he has some backup food ready just in case I forget to feed him later. I can’t really blame him for being prepared!

Additional Resources

• Pet Education: Why dogs bury bones
• Southfork Animal Hospital: Dogs and digging problems [Download]
• Cesar’s Way: Why does your dog bury her treats or toys?

Photo: Waldo Péndola G./Flickr

Source: Canine Hoarders: Why Do Dogs Bury Food?

Written by Gayle Hickman Copyright 2012, Pets Adviser® pet advice.

I’m sure many dog owners all around the world have asked themselves, “Why do dogs eat so fast?”

I’ve owned several dogs in my lifetime, and every one was a fast eater, whether they were around other dogs or all alone.

Take my dog, Sweet Pea, for example. She never took time to taste her food. She would begin chowing down as soon as she saw the food heading toward her doggie dish. She never graded it, gulping down anything, from lettuce to pineapple to meat.

Could it be that a dog’s strong sense of smell enhances any flavor?

Why Do Dogs Do That: A Collection of Curious Canine Behaviors suggests an explanation for this “chow-hound” attitude, stating that it lies in the competitive instincts whenever “social carnivores’’ — such as wolves — bring down prey. The animal that eats faster is in a better position to survive and pass along its genes.

Fun Facts About Dogs: Inspiring Tabs, Amazing Feats, and Helpful Hints states that unaware of when they would get their next meal, wild dogs ate as quickly and as much as they could to ensure that their larger rivals would not have much to steal.

The Brake-Fast dog bowl safely slows down meal times.

Instead of pondering the question “Why do dogs eat so fast?” just try slowing them down a bit. You can buy special dog bowls made with different size knobs at the bottom. A dog cannot push the knobs out because they are attached. This slows the dog’s eating down because it has to fish out the food instead of gobbling it down. These special dog bowls are easy to clean and easy to use. (One great brand recommended by the staff at Pets Adviser is the Brake-Fast dog bowl, pictured here.)

By slowing down their table manners, dogs will prevent problems such as vomiting, choking and bloat.

Another choice is to place a bowl upside down inside the feeding bowl. Put the food in so that it goes around the inner bowl, allowing the dog to get only a mouthful at the time.

Whatever method you choose, your dog will maintain better health and may even find that it enjoys savoring the good taste of its food.

Who knows? You may get noted as having the best table-mannered dog in the neighborhood, and your dog will think it has the best food in town. It will be saying “Rrfff, it’s s-o-o-o good!”

Photo: Amarand Agasi/Flickr

Source: Why Do Dogs Eat So Fast? (And How to Slow Them Down)

Written by Gayle Hickman Copyright 2012, Pets Adviser® pet advice.

In 2007, roughly 17,000 pets were sickened — and 4,000 dogs and cats died — from tainted commercial pet foods made with ingredients imported from China.

The culprit? Melamine, a chemical made from coal. For years animal feed producers in China ground it into a powder and mixed it into dog food and cat food. Why? To save money, of course. Melamine looks just like protein on inspection results, so it’s a cheap way to make the food look like it has more protein than it really does. Unfortunately, melamine (also used to make those ubiquitous plastic chairs seen on front porches everywhere) had the nasty little habit of killing dogs and cats by the thousands.

China’s food manufacturers operate in a culture of cutting corners and compromising safety. If it’s not melamine, it’s another dangerous additive just like it. For example, the newest cost-saving scheme is to sometimes mix in a hydrolyzed leather protein additive (made from scraps of cow skin). The curing chemicals used to make that leather can kill our pets in high enough doses.

Here’s the thing, though: U.S. manufacturers are utterly dependent on Chinese ingredients. In the past 10 years, food imports to the United States from China have tripled. China now supplies 70 percent of dog and cat food imports to the United States.

This growth is happening so quickly, and on such a massive scale, that inspectors in China openly concede they’re unable to keep pace. And if you think the U.S. is looking closely at this stuff, think again. Just 2 percent (or less) of food imported from China is ever inspected when it reaches our borders. That’s right: 2 percent.

Does My Dog Food Have Chinese Ingredients?

Take a look at the label on your dog food and treats. Does it say “Made in China” anywhere? If so, toss it in the trash.

Your run-of-the-mill dog food very likely does have Chinese ingredients in the mix. It’s up to you to decide if it’s a risk you’re willing to take. But you’re not off the hook even if you’re faithfully buying a high-end brand. The FDA does not require “country of origin” statements on pet food; and, well, US manufacturers aren’t going out of their way to blatantly advertise a China link to their “premium” food.

I decided to contact the manufacturers of 10 of the best dog food brands on the market to inquire about Chinese ingredients. I sent an email to the makers of the following products, which I consider to be some of today’s “best of the best” of the commercial dry dog foods:

• Artemis Fresh Mix Maximal
• Blue Buffalo Wilderness Duck
• Canidae Grain Free pureSKY
• EVO Turkey & Chicken
• Go! Natural Grain Free Endurance Formula
• Nature’s Variety Instinct Duck Meal & Turkey Meal
• Orijen 6 Fresh Fish with Sea Vegetables
• Taste of the Wild Wetlands with Roasted Fowl
• TimberWolf Wild & Natural Canid
• Wellness CORE Original

I asked them all, “Can you please tell me if any ingredients are sourced from China?” Their answers, overall, were shocking, and you need to see what they told me…

Read Our Free Report!

This is only an excerpt. But there’s so much more, and it’s totally free! To read our FULL five-page investigation, simply subscribe to Pets Adviser (don’t worry, it’s also free), and you’ll get instant free access to the complete report, in a beautiful PDF format that you can print out and save. Use the quick form below:

Top photo: klynslis/Flickr

Source: Chinese Ingredients in Dog Food – A Pets Adviser Investigation

Written by David Deleon Baker Copyright 2012, Pets Adviser® pet advice.

Rachael Ray and her pit bull, Isaboo

For years I was firmly convinced that grocery stores would never stock quality dog food. The top grocery-store brands — Pedigree, Purina and Iams — all contain loathsome amounts of fillers, fats and animal byproducts. Corn is usually the main ingredient, distantly followed by meat protein.

When people have asked my advice about quality dog food, I’ve always told them to avoid buying food anywhere except pet-specialty stores, like Petco, PetSmart or their local feed barn. It’s one of my many animal welfare soapboxes.

Sometimes I could see a brief facial expression flicker across the person’s face, which I knew meant that if a grocery store didn’t carry it, the person’s pets didn’t eat it. Making an extra stop at a pet-supply store isn’t always convenient.

But now, thanks to celebrity chef Rachael Ray, I can change my little speech.

When I clipped two outstanding coupons ($4 off!) for Ray’s new pet food line, Nutrish, I checked out the food online.

Much to my surprise, her kibble focuses on grain- and filler-free ingredients, listing chicken as the first two ingredients; the beef kibble does the same for meat. Her treats, Just Six, contain only (you guessed it) six ingredients, making them far healthier than Milk Bonz.

Okay, so Nutrish isn’t a premium-quality kibble. It does have corn meal and animal fat, but in much smaller amounts than you’d normally find in a grocery-store pet food, only about 15 percent. I’d call it a “high quality” food, which is just fine for keeping your dog healthy and fit.

Look at it this way: Alpo has the nutritional qualities of a Big Mac. Beneful and Iams are similar to El Pollo Loco. Costco brand food is on par with a healthy meal at Applebee’s, and premium-quality foods are comparable to Whole Foods. Nutrish lies somewhere between Iams and Costco, perhaps a Souplantation salad bar or a nice bowl of noodles and vegetables?

One of the reasons I’m so excited about this food is that it’s readily available where most people shop, which means that it will be easier for the average Jane or Joe to purchase more nutritious food for their dogs. It’s still more expensive than Alpo, but it’s reasonably priced and affordable for most households. You can even buy it at Wal-Mart!

If you’re interested in trying Ray’s line, available in chicken and beef, visit her website to sign up for a free sample. After you complete the little form, you can also download a coupon for $3.50 off. If you’re a coupon champ, head to Ralph’s this week to pick up 12-lb bag, regularly $14.99, on sale for $11.99. With the coupon, that’s only $8.49 per bag or $.70/lb.

Another thing I love about Nutrish is that Rachael Ray donates a portion of sales to four animal rescue organizations: BADRAP (the best rescue in the WORLD), the North Shore Animal League, the ASPCA and America’s Vet Dogs, a nonprofit that trains service dogs for military veterans.

Lest you think Ray is paying me for this Nutrish dog food review, fear not: I’m just an excited consumer. I bought two bags today and will start switching my dogs to it tomorrow. Fingers crossed, please, for an easy transition!

Source: Rachael Ray Nutrish Dog Food Review

Written by Tamar Love Grande Copyright 2012, Pets Adviser® pet advice.

If you’re like me — or anyone else trying to stick to a budget — then you’re always looking for ways to spend less money. Here are a few ways to save big on your pet’s veterinary costs.

1. Prevention

Just as with humans, the best way to save big on vet bills is to avoid them. A healthy diet and regular exercise are the best preventives. Make sure your dog gets some form of exercise daily — walks, trips to the dog park, play dates with other dogs, playing games with you — and eats a premium diet. Your cat doesn’t need formal exercise, but playtime has great benefits.

Commercials for Pedigree and Purina products tell you their food is healthy, but if you check the labels, you’ll see that the food you buy in grocery stores is high in fat and fillers, no matter how “healthy” it claims to be. By heading for your local pet store or feed barn, you can buy a premium food for only a little more, one that is actually good for your pet.

When you find a premium food you like, try to buy it in bulk. For example, the Natural Balance Fish & Sweet Potato food I buy at the feed barn costs about $37 for a 15 pound bag, whereas the 28 pound bag costs only $47.

2. Annual Vet Visits

If you see your veterinarian annually, you’ll up your chances of finding a problem before it becomes a serious (and expensive) issue. For example, if you have your dog’s blood tested every year, you’ll become aware of conditions like diabetes and cancer when there still may be a chance to successfully treat them.

If you have more than one pet, try to take them in at the same time. It’s a bigger financial outlay all at once, but most veterinarians give a multiple-pet discount, so you’ll wind up paying less in the long run.

3. Home Remedies

For very basic health problems, like constipation, diarrhea, conjunctivitis and fleas, you can try home remedies for pets before you shell out funds for a vet visit your dog or cat may not need. Keep in mind, though, that if the “DIY” remedies don’t seem to be working, or if the condition worsens, you should take your pet to the veterinarian immediately.

4. Low-Cost Clinic for Basic Services

If you adopt your pet from a shelter, he will most likely already be spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped, which will save you a bundle in vet fees. However, if your pet does need these services, you can take him to a low-cost clinic to for basic procedures, saving the big bucks for your pet’s annual visits at your regular veterinarian’s office.

Look around for vaccination clinics. Many pet supply stores offer them, as do feed barns. Our dog park even offers them on Sundays! Many animal shelters will also vaccinate or microchip for reduced rates.

5. Avoid the Emergency Vet

If you notice that something seems off about your pet, try to do something about it during regular business hours. Although emergency vet visits can be essential in many situations, they cost about 50 percent more than visits during business hours. When you’re deciding on a veterinarian, try to select one that is open late every day of the week.

6. Make Informed Decisions

If you’ve ever had to visit the vet for more than just a sniffle, you know how confusing it can be when your vet presents different options, especially since some of them can be very expensive. Since the vet is the expert, most people sign off on procedures they may not need, just because they aren’t very knowledgeable about pet health.

It’s possible that if you put off those pricey X-rays for one day, your dog’s constipation might clear up on its own. If you live in an area where heartworm is extremely rare, perhaps your pet doesn’t need the recommended test and preventive medication.

Read up on your dog’s breed and familiarize yourself with common health issues and remedies. If your veterinarian recommends something expensive, get a second opinion. Use common sense when you evaluate the estimate.

7. Save on Medication

If your pet is on a maintenance drug for a chronic condition, such as thyroid problems, arthritis or heart murmur, ask your vet if he can give you a prescription for a human equivalent. Although your health insurance won’t pay for it, you can purchase many commonly used drugs for $4 at Target or Costco.

Look online for flea control products, discount medications and vaccinations you can administer yourself. Ebay is a good source for flea and tick control, and sites like 1-800-PetMeds.com offer significant discounts on medication.

8. A Word on Pet Insurance

Although pet insurance is a safe way to ease your mind about unexpected vet costs, it’s even better if you create a savings account for your pet. With pet insurance, you’ll pay monthly premiums and may never need to make a claim. If you’re able to save $5,000 or so for emergencies, you’ll accrue interest and avoid paying monthly premiums.

Do you have any tips for saving on your pet’s healthcare costs? Tell me about them in the comments section below.

Photo: Joseph O’Connell/Flickr

Source: 8 Ways to Save Big on Vet Costs

Written by Tamar Love Grande Copyright 2012, Pets Adviser® pet advice.

How to get a dog to eat vegetables?

Vegetables are an essential part of your dog’s diet. Although they are primarily carnivores, dogs can also benefit from a diet rich in the vitamins, minerals and nutrients found in fresh vegetables. Unfortunately, many dogs turn up their noses at vegetables, primarily because they don’t smell very interesting, so you may need to convince him that vegetables are delicious.

The first time I gave my dachshund Hank a carrot, he looked at me as if I were insane. What on earth was this hard, odorless orange thing I was shoving at his muzzle? But after a little convincing — and a few tricks — he now regards this nutritious vegetable as an incredibly tasty treat.

With very few exceptions (onions, garlic and excessive amounts of tomatoes), all vegetables are healthy for dogs, especially vibrantly colored vegetables high in the same vitamins human bodies crave. Choose the same quality of veggies that you’d serve your family, using them to supplement his regular diet of high-protein dog food.

My favorite vegetables to give dogs are fresh baby carrots, broccoli and cauliflower, roasted sweet potatoes, zucchini, squash, green beans and pureed spinach. They also enjoy strawberries, melon and fresh pumpkin. Large carrots are fun to give them, especially when you watch your dog carry them around like a big, meaty bone — or a funky orange cigar. The smaller the dog, the sillier the image.

The easiest way to get your dog to eat vegetables (and love them) is to trick him into eating them. Puree a couple of packages of frozen spinach and broccoli, press out the water and add a cup of chicken broth. Serve cold or at room temperature. Your dog will be so busy lapping up the broth that he won’t notice the green stuff in it. Over time, add less broth until he’s eating only the pureed vegetables. You can also marinate porous vegetables, like squash, broccoli and cauliflower.

If your dog still objects, begin mixing small amounts of vegetables into his regular food. Make sure the veggies are chopped small enough that he can’t root around for the “good stuff” and ignore the veggies. Pureed carrots are especially good for this maneuver.

Once your dog decides he likes his veggies, you can give them as treats or regular meal supplements. Keep in mind that although vegetables are low in fat and high in nutrients, they still contain calories. When you give your dog veggies, make sure you’re staying within his daily allotment of calories.

Now all my dogs love vegetables, especially carrots — and especially Hank!

Source: Convincing Your Dog that Fresh Vegetables Are Delicious

Written by Tamar Love Grande Copyright 2012, Pets Adviser® pet advice.

Liver cake recipe for dogs: protein rich, smells terrible.

Inexpensive and nutritious, liver cake is the perfect way to show your pup how much you love him. It’s sinfully delicious. If you’re a dog, that is. Think of it as catnip for canines.

I found this liver cake recipe for dogs several years ago. This dish is rich and chock full of calories, so it’s not intended to replace regular pet food. Save it instead for special occasions, such as your dog’s next birthday party. Invite his puppy pals, and you’ll be the most popular pet parent on the block. Bouncy house optional.

Other recipes for liver cake may call for garlic — but not this one. (Some veterinarians recommend steering clear of garlic; others say it can be healthy in small amounts.) Instead, this cake is frosted with pumpkin and cream cheese. Pumpkin has several health benefits for dogs, including aiding digestion. Try to find a brand of canned pumpkin that doesn’t have added sugars.

Ingredients

• 1 T butter or shortening
• 1 lb. raw beef liver
• 1 C whole wheat flour
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 C whipped light cream cheese (optional)
• 1 C canned pumpkin (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Grease a cake pan with butter or shortening.
3. Puree the liver in a blender or food processor.
4. Combine liver, flour and eggs in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly.
5. Pour the mixture into the cake pan.
6. Bake for 30 minutes. Allow allow cake to cool completely.
7. Frost cake with cream cheese and/or canned pumpkin.

Makes eight servings for small dogs and four for large dogs.

WARNING: Even if you’re adventurous, you do not want to eat a sample. Trust me. To human noses, it smells even worse that it tastes, and your house will reek for a couple of hours, but isn’t your spoiled baby worth it?

Liver cake recipe for dogs courtesy of Marcia R.

Source: Liver Cake Recipe for Dogs

Written by Tamar Love Grande Copyright 2012, Pets Adviser® pet advice.

Senior dog not eating enough?

Many owners worry that their senior dogs are not eating enough. This is certainly a problem, especially if the doggie has been losing weight over a period of time. It is always important to get proper nutrition. Geriatric dogs absolutely need necessary nutrition or they will begin to show signs of failing.

As in humans, older dogs have dental issues that can cause discomfort while eating. Have your veterinarian check the teeth. The dog may need an extraction or two. This is not uncommon for an older animal. Feeding a quality canned food may solve the problem. Chicken or beef broth added to the dry food will also help him chew his food more readily.

Splitting your pup’s meals into two smaller meals may entice him to eat more. Elderly stomachs seem to get upset easier. Several smaller meals throughout the day will help prevent tummy issues. Food designed specifically for older canines is available — it can work wonders for aged pets.

Your doggie may be having problems evacuating his bowels. Watch him when he does his business. If he is straining and having difficulty producing stool, you’ve found the problem. Simply adding 1 teaspoon of Metamucil to the food will help the dog poop without problems. Do this daily.

As a canine gets older, his level of activity decreases. You may have noticed that your once active-buddy sleeps a lot more now. He no longer chases a ball with the voracity that he once did. Older pets do not expend the energy that they did when they were younger, and they usually reduce their food intake to reflect that decline. If he is just eating less but not losing weight, he’ll be just fine. Any weight loss in a senior dog is concerning because there could be an underlying medical problem. In this situation, it is advisable to seek veterinary care.

The sense of smell also diminishes as a canine ages. Food items that once drove him crazy will often be passed over now. A trick that we have found to be useful is to rub a little bit of tuna oil on the inside and edges of the feeding bowl. This is an enticing smell for most canines and will draw him to the bowl.

At your pet’s next veterinary visit, ask your doctor if he is at good weight. If your dog is getting thin, the vet might want to do some tests. Many owners worry that their senior dog’s not eating enough. The best judge of that is your veterinarian.

Watch the Video Version of This Article

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ0uID5x99U

Top photo: loosends/Flickr.com

Source: Senior Dogs Not Eating Enough

Written by Pets Adviser Copyright 2012, Pets Adviser® pet advice.

My Boston terrier farts all the time!

It’s not just a rumor in the dog world that those cute little Boston terriers pass gas all the time. They really do. And we’re not just talking about a polite “passing of gas” — when they let one loose… Wowzers, they can clear out a whole room.

So you may be asking the Google gods, pleading for answers, seeking relief: “Why does my Boston terrier fart all the time?!” Well, you’ve come to the right place. Spray some air freshener, nice and thick, then sit back and relax.

Less Stinky

It’s likely that nothing will stop the constant dog poots, but there are a few ways to help make them a bit less noxious.

If you are not feeding a good high-quality food, you need to switch to one right away. Regular grocery foods are very high in fat content, which causes canine flatulence, yes even in Boston terriers. Go to a pet supply store and ask for lamb and rice-based foods that should have lower fat content. The clerk may even give you some samples to try out. Lamb and rice is the best choice for gassy terriers. See which brand makes your pup stink less, and run with it (instead of running from the house).

Giving the dog chlorophyll tablets really does help with eliminating gas — but they will also likely help make ‘em stink less. Either buy the tabs online or at health food stores. I must warn you, however, that the chlorophyll will turn your doggie’s turds dark green. (Pretend it’s St. Patrick’s Day!)

Adjust the Food Bowls

Many people say they’ve had good results by elevating the food dish and water bowl. (I found a really cute elevated dog feeder at Amazon.com recently, pictured below.) This helps eliminate the intake of air while your Boston terrier is eating and drinking. Less air means less gas, just like with human babies.

Canine stomachs are very sensitive. So never feed your pup bread products. The yeast increases the dog’s ability to blast the area with gas. More important, eliminate human foods from his diet (No more feeding your dog marshmallows! No sausage links!), or you will continue to be surrounded by dog farts.

This wonderful breed certainly has an issue that owners must learn to live with. There are no ifs ands or (stinky) butts about it. If none of these suggestions work, you will either need to purchase a gas mask or invest in an air freshener company. Does your Boston Terrier fart all the time? Sorry, bud — you probably just have to live with it.

Top photo: nickk88/Flickr.com

Source: My Boston Terrier Farts All the Time!

Written by Dan Frontworth Copyright 2012, Pets Adviser® pet advice.

What would be the ethics of a vegetarian pet diet anyway? (And am I seriously overthinking this?)

I’m a (mostly) vegetarian. I eat fish sometimes and the occasional shrimp or scallop. I think, overall, that people shouldn’t eat animals. It doesn’t seem good for us. There is lots of evidence that a vegetarian diet is healthier than a meat-eating diet. Mostly, though, I think that people should stop factory farming. Torturing an animal before you kill it, as factory farming does, is unnecessary. Yes, that might make meat a little more expensive, but the ethical price we pay as a society that condones suffering is much higher.

I feed the dog, the cats and outdoor kitty every morning. I put some dry food in their bowls and mix it with canned food. Dry food is easy to tolerate as it is just hard little biscuits that don’t look like anything. The canned food though, ewwwwwwwwwww. Chunks of meat in a smelly, gelatinous sauce. The ingredients boast of “real” chicken, tuna, beef, liver or whatever. Gross. The pets love it.

As I fill up their bowls with the proper amount, I wonder about the morality of feeding my housepets meat.

I’m a vegetarian because I don’t like cruelty to animals. By feeding my pets meat I am supporting the very industry that I try to boycott. Evolution made my animals meat eaters. Just because they live with me doesn’t mean this changes. But is it ethical of me to make an ethical decision for them? What if my dog wants to eat a sausage? What if my cat chooses to eat tuna? Is it acceptable of me to make these choices for them? If they are meant to be “companion animals” and not pets, am I not required to respect their right to make their own choices?

I really, really need to get a full-time job. Being (f)unemployed has its perks, but having too much time to think about things certainly is not one of them.

A quick web search (did I mention I am out of work??) turns up a variety of sites hawking vegan and vegetarian pet food. It is expensive and filled with all sorts of synthetic additives. Doctors are always telling people that the best way to get the nutrients we need are lots of fresh fruits, vegetables and grains. Multivitamins do not make up for a well-balanced diet in humans; why would synthetic vitamins and minerals substitute a well-balanced diet for my pets? The argument that vegan and vegetarian pet food is “just as good” nutritionally doesn’t seem to hold water. If not fed the proper diet with enough meat, most cats and dogs will develop health problems — cats may even go blind.

I don’t know what the answer is, and I know there are bigger problems in the world. This, really, isn’t even a blip on the radar compared with other issues — like access to clean drinking water and medical care for most people, let alone animals. Having the time on my hands to even begin to worry about these things is a great privilege; which is really just a fancy way of saying that I need to get a life. I would still like an answer, though, so I can move on to worrying about something else.

Source: Cruelty-Free Kibble: Vegetarian Pet Food, Ethical Concerns

Written by Sarah Blakemore Copyright 2012, Pets Adviser® pet advice.