Whether you have a new set of furry paws or have spent your life caring for four-legged friends, there are many ways we can learn to relax our dogs, helping them stay calm and anxiety-free and help them rest better when the night draws in. From increased exercise in the day to amazing aromatherapy, here’s the ways you can support your dog to a better night’s sleep.
Create a Comfortable Sleeping Environment
Creating a comfortable sleeping environment is one of the best ways to calm your dog and help them sleep better. Just like us humans, a comfy bed and snuggly blankets can help relax our bodies and help us sink so easily into a good night’s sleep. For those with new puppies and deciding to crate them during bedtime, ensure the crate is full of soft furnishings like a soft bed, a blanket and their favourite toy to reduce the anxiety of separation.
a room that is dark, quiet and separated from the main areas of the house can help prevent any excessive stress caused by strangers in the room, door knocks or even if you have little humans around the home. Controlling temperature can also help aid relaxation. Rooms that are too hot pose a problem for our pooches as dogs cannot regulate their body temperature often overheating. If you notice your dog excessively panting during bedtime, open a window, move their bed away from any direct heating and move into a cooler and more aerated room.
Establish a Bedtime Routine
From their puppy years, dogs are healthier and happier when set routines and schedules each day. Whether that be food times or bedtimes repeated each night, this helps ease dogs’ anxiety keeping them calm and relaxed. During training and their development, set specific times for food, exercise and bedtime to help alleviate attention-seeking behaviour such as:
One of the best ways to establish a healthy bedtime routine is to encourage your dog to sleep when you do. No matter, if your dog sleeps next to you or in their own separate room, ensuring your dog echoes your bedtime, will help keep them calmer, more relaxed and healthier than before.
Use Aromatherapy
To give your dog a little extra TLC during their bedtime routine, using essential oils can help relax your dog making them more likely to fall asleep when you do. Essential oils like lavender and chamomile are not only key to relaxation but they are super dog-friendly too! From shampoos to blanket sprays, adding aromatherapy to your dog’s nightly routine can help them fall into slumber with ease.
Reduce Their Anxiety
As mentioned above, essential oils and aromatherapy can significantly benefit your dog’s mental health, but you can also give your dog a little extra TLC in its diet. Calming treats with active ingredients like lavender and chamomile can help start the wind-down process during digestion after their evening meal. Spend quality time with your four-legged friend like an evening stroll or a quick play can help ease their anxiety and relax them when you all pop off to bed!
Consider Crate Training
If you have recently brought a new set of paws into your home, thoughts of bedtime training may be filling you with terror. No fear as many opt for crate training their pups to ease bad behaviours during the night. Adding a crate to your own bedroom or a quiet space can relax your furry friend into knowing that their sleeping space is secure and stress-free. What is important to remember is to buy a create significantly larger than your dog, so they have the space to move around and be comfortable without feeling constricted and claustrophobic.
Use Soothing Sounds
We all know that ocean waves, whale noises and sounds of the Amazon leave us feeling calm and relaxed. Well…did you know that music has the same effect on our dogs? A study conducted by Queen’s University, Belfast, researched showed the positive effect classical music had on dogs to aid with anxiety and stress. So, next time you are struggling to get your furry friend to settle when the sun goes down, try a bit of Mozart for a peaceful night’s sleep.
Address Medical Issues
If you notice any changes in your dog’s behaviour such as increased urination, restlessness or respiratory struggles, it is always recommended to speak to your vet to rule out any significant medical issues. Diabetes in dogs may present as symptoms such as increased urination which might be most common during the night creating unease for your dog during bedtime. Keeping an eye on your dog’s behaviour and being aware of any changes can help decrease the development of medical issues before they become too problematic for your pooch.
Be Patient
There is no better tool to support your dog’s mental and physical health than patience. When it comes to our furry friends, it takes time to establish routines and behaviours so be patient and avoid frustration with bedtime routines. Avoid becoming frustrated and using negative reinforcement if your dog shows signs of attention-seeking behaviour during the night. This can reverse any hard work done and will increase the likelihood of bad behaviour later in life. Ensure you spend a little extra quality time with your dog during periods of training to strengthen your bond.
Sleep a Little Easier
Following the above tips can help work towards a healthy routine between you and your four-legged friend. Increasing physical stimulation during the day and creating a cosy corner are some of the wonderful ways you can all help to keep your dog relaxed and stress-free when night-time approaches. Adding calming treats to their daily diets can also aid their stress and allow your dog to slowly wind down after a hard day’s play. So, with some calming changes to your daily routine, you can have your dog catching those zzzs in no time.
Read more: 10 Sleeping Tips Every Dog Owner Should Know
]]>With weight being such an important factor in our dog’s life, we thought it necessary to create an article about how to support our dogs who we may believe need a little extra TLC in the weight and nutrition department. Despite the worry around obesity in dogs, malnutrition and problems arising from those who are underweight are just as significant. So, read below to find out all the ways you can support your dog and check their weight is exactly as it should be.
Assessing Your Dog’s Weight
When it comes to establishing your dog’s weight there are numerous ways in which you can check that your dog is not underweight. Visual checks are some of the best ways before travelling to your vet to get them weighed. The Body Condition score test is a visual way of assessing if your dog’s weight is where it needs to be or whether or not you need to consult your vet to establish reasons why your dog is underweight.
A score of 1-3 would indicate your dog is underweight. As you can see from the first images in the chart, the dog’s ribs and hips are extremely visible. At this stage, you may notice your dog is lethargic and unmotivated to play and exercise. Just some simple changes like increasing their food measurements or quantities can help alleviate this and get them to normal weight.
Another method for establishing your dog’s correct weight is to have a conversation with your vet and have them weighed regularly. Different breeds, sizes and even genders of dogs have varying weight ideals, so it is best to chat with your vet to see what the ideal weight for your specific dog is. However, from a guideline point of view, ideal weights can be as follows:
However, as mentioned, this is a rough guideline, and you should always speak to your vet about the ideal weight for your own dog.
Factors Contributing to Underweight Dogs
There are a plethora of reasons why a dog may be underweight. There is no one size fits all approach to your dog’s weight as many factors can contribute to why your dog might be losing weight. Firstly, health issues such as gastrointestinal problems, diabetes or even the preliminary stages of some cancers can all be causes of why your dog is losing weight. If you notice any changes in your dog’s weight and their routine has not changed, it is vital to speak to your vet who can rule out any underlying issues.
Secondly, behavioural issues can also be a reason your dog is suffering from weight loss. Just like us humans, mental health has a massive impact on our digestion, appetite and metabolism. Anxious dogs who may be shunning food are at risk of weight loss and malnutrition. Sometimes this may be caused by the placement of the food bowl (in a room that is too noisy, not private or around other dominating animals). Ensure their food bowl is placed in a quiet and relaxed atmosphere where they can eat in peace.
Finally, another reason your dog may be losing weight is their diet and routine. The food you may be giving your pet may not be fully supporting their nutritional needs. Diet is a fundamental factor in maintaining your dog’s weight – too much fibre or lack of high-quality ingredients can lead to digestive upset causing issues such as loose stools and diarrhoea leading to weight loss.
Strategies For Helping Dogs to Gain Weight
Feed the Correct Amount
Do you notice your dog requesting more food hours after finishing their own? Well, this could be a little sign that they are not eating the required amount of food. Ensure you are also feeding your dog enough food at regular times throughout the day. Dogs should be fed, in their adult life, between 2-3 meals per day and enough food to coat the bowl so the bottom is no longer visible. However, don’t be fooled by a clever pooch – if you know you have fed your dog the correct amount of food (you can often find this information of feeding guidelines on the back of your dog’s food) don’t succumb to needy behaviours of your dog’s asking for more food – this will only encourage bad behaviour which can lead to excessive weight gain.
Choose the Right Food
Finding the correct food for your dog is vital in maintaining a happy and healthy pooch. Medium and large breed dogs, especially if you have active breeds like retrievers, huskies and spaniels, require at least a 50-60% protein content in their food to support their active lifestyle so it’s vital to ensure the food you give your dog is exactly what they need.
Supplement with Treats
If you want to give your dog a little extra nutritional TLC then healthy and wholesome treats can be beneficial to your dog’s daily diet. Adding a few extra treats to your dog’s routine, that are high quality and nutritionally dense can help add some extra pounds so your four-legged friend can reach that ideal weight in no time.
Exercise Correctly
For owners with furry friends who are a little under their ideal weight, deciding on how to exercise your dog may be a struggle. However, light and non-intensive exercise is the perfect way of giving your pooch a breath of fresh air, stretching their paws and easing digestion in a gentle and calm way. Instead of intensive exercise like running or fetch, a simple 20–30-minute stroll per day (this can even be split into two 15-minute walks) will give your dog the exercise they need without the worry of burning off those extra calories you have tried so hard to give them.
Monitoring Your Dog’s Progress
Wondering how you can see if your hard work is paying off? The body condition score test is one of the best ways of establishing if your dog has gained weight. If you notice a little bit of furry cuddliness around their hips and ribs, then your dog has successfully gained weight. Their ribs should no longer be visible, and you may notice their behaviour of whining, barking or scratching for food has stopped.
What is the most important thing to remember when dealing with your dog’s weight is that any noticeable changes in their body condition, eating habits or even digestion are discussed with your vet to rule out any underlying conditions. Prevention is always better than cure and you know your dog better than anyone so consult a vet if you become worried or concerned about your dog’s weight. Ultimately, with some evaluation of their diet, feeding times and changes in exercise routine, your four-legged friend should put on that extra puppy fat in the blink of an eye!
Read More: How to Help your Dog Gain Weight
]]>The aim of this article is to get to the root cause of why your dog is barking and simple changes you can make to help reduce the likelihood of your dog barking all night long giving you the perfect and peaceful night sleep that both you and your dog deserve.
Why Do Dogs Bark?
Unable to communicate via speech, our dogs bark as a way of expressing what they need or feel. Often barking is done during times of stress or anxiety when your dog is communicating that they are worried or anxious about something that is happening around them. However, our dogs can bark, whine or use their voices to communicate to us that they need us in some way this could either be feeding, giving them access to where they go to the bathroom or reaching a toy stuck in a specific place or even to take them for playtime.
Often deep, rapid and rumbling barks can signal a sign of distress or anxiety resulting in barking that can appear angry or aggressive. This is a dog’s way of informing us that something or someone is worrying them such as a stranger at the door or perhaps a strange animal in their vicinity.
High-pitched or squealy barks can often highlight that your dog wants your attention such as feeding, toileting or to be exercised. To help you support your dog’s behaviour, it is vital to understand your dog’s behaviour and environment when barking occurs.
Addressing Their Physical Needs
To help alleviate your dog’s barking, you need to ensure to address their physical needs as often this is one of the primary reasons your dog is barking to gain your attention. Providing your dog with food at set routines and establishing mealtimes during training and development can help reduce the likelihood of your dog barking for food either whilst you are eating or during the evening time.
Taking your dog out to play or walk before mealtimes can then help ease digestion and then calm your pet after they have eaten making mealtime much more enjoyable for you. If you notice your dog barking as you eat, making this simple change can help stop any unnecessary attention-seeking behaviour whilst you eat.
Addressing Their Psychological Needs
For nervous dogs or those with noise phobias or adversity to strangers and other dogs, easing anxiety can help reduce the need for aggressive sounding and wary barking. As dogs cannot communicate when they are scared, they bark to tell us that they do not like the situation they are in. For dogs who bark at postmen or delivery drivers, try introducing your dog to your regular postman and invest in an outdoor letter/post box to alleviate the need to knock on the door. If you live in a built-up area with noise at night, calming treats or aromatherapy solutions can benefit keep your dog relaxed and calm when outdoor noises occur.
Use Positive Reinforcement
There is nothing more significant to the bond between you and your dog is positive reinforcement. We have all heard the phrase “You get more flies with honey than with vinegar” and this phrase applies to how you interact with your furry friend. Dogs are eager to please and respond far more effectively to positive reinforcement than negative punishment. If your dog is barking excessively at night, your dog is trying to tell you something to soothe them, calm them and establish exactly what they need.
Create a Create Sleeping Environment
For those midnight barkers out there, creating a calm and cosy bedtime space for your dog can be the recipe for a great night’s sleep. For noise-phobic dogs, add a little extra white noise to their sleeping quarters with either soft and soothing sounds or classical music. Adding essential oils to your pet’s room is also a sure-fire way of creating a relaxing and stress-free environment. Lavender and chamomile are proven to calm and soothe the skin and keep the body more relaxed than ever before.
A Helping Hand
To give you a little extra support when helping alleviate your dog’s excessive barking – try investing in anti-bark collars or support medication to reduce stress and anxiety in your dog. Newly designed citronella collars are a completely pain-free way of helping to manage your dog’s behaviour. Triggered by your dog’s bark, the collar gives your dog a light spray of citronella to help eradicate excessive barking. Worried about overspray? Its super-clever technology ensures it is only triggered by specific barking and vibrations meaning your dog won’t receive any accidental sprays.
Seek Professional Help
One thing to remember when you have any concerns about your dog is that you are not alone. From supportive veterinarians to dog behaviourists, you can seek professional help if you believe it will be beneficial to your four-legged friend. Dog behaviourists can spend time with your pooch and help with training and positive behaviour control to help reduce anxieties in your dog, aid in your own understanding of why your dog was barking and alleviate the behaviours keeping you both awake at night.
One of the most significant factors when changing your dog’s routine is consistency. Sticking to routines, positively reinforcing good behaviours and staying calm is the best way to keep your dog behaving exactly as it should.
Say Goodbye to Barking
Whether it be managing potty training or ensuring regular and suitable feeding times and portions, ensuring you are doing everything to support your dog’s physical and mental development can be the easiest way to alleviate bad and repetitive behaviours. From creating cosy corners to adding calming treats, following our steps can help support your dog’s training to a bark-free bedtime. So, for those wanting a little extra shut-eye without your best friend barking, try some simple changes for a peaceful night’s sleep.
]]>From puppy development to caring for a Golden Oldie, weight management is fundamental in ensuring your dog leads a happy and healthy life. Significant weight gain can lead to detrimental effects on your dog’s joints, muscles, digestion and even cognition so there is no time like the present to help them shed that unwanted weight. Understanding the reasons behind your dog gaining weight and how to counteract it can help direct both you and your dog into a healthier and happier lifestyle.
Assessing Your Dog’s Weight
Managing your dog’s weight is just like managing our own. From scales to visual differences, checking if your dog has put on extra pounds is easier than ever. Your dog’s veterinarian will recommend you come in to weigh your dog every 6 months to see if there are any dramatic changes in their health. However, for puppies, this may be more regular during their first 6 months and more for dogs with illnesses such as diabetes (where weight is affected).
Your Dog’s Size and Breed
Managing your dog’s weight is also dependent on their breed. Smaller breed dogs will have a dramatically lower healthy weight than medium or large breeds so understanding your dog is key to help ensure they don’t become overweight or obese.
Guidelines suggest that your dog’s healthy weight should be as follows:
When visually assessing your dog’s weight, look out for excessive fat around the stomach and ribs. A healthy dog should have a slight curvature around the ribs and not be rounded in shape. You may also notice your dog has decreased energy, lethargy and is less keen to go for walks and exercise which can all be indicators your dog has gained excessive weight.
Factors Contributing to Overweight Dogs
Diet
There are many factors that can contribute to your dog’s weight gain. Firstly, diet is a massive influence on how healthy your dog’s body is. A lack of proper nutrition and more carbohydrates than normal can contribute to weight gain and obesity. Ensuring your dog’s diet is balanced with protein, vegetables, fruits and botanicals can help keep their health in tip-top shape and reduce the likelihood of piling on those extra pounds. Stick to feeding guidelines so no more than 2 bowls of food per day and keep treats to 10% of their nutritional intake – any more than this and you will notice visible weight gain in your dog.
Exercise
Even us humans know the importance of exercise for our health. Helping to break down fat and help our hearts, regular exercise is just as important for our four-legged friends. Dependent on your dog’s age, breed and size, levels of exercise may differ, but you should be aiming for at least 30 minutes of exercise per day for your dog.
For those with working breeds or larger and more active dogs, recommended exercise can vary from anything up to 2 hours so if you live with a springer or cocker spaniel, border collie or retriever – it’s best to get those walking shoes on and get outdoors with your furry friend.
Health Issues
There are some health issues that can lead to weight gain in dogs. Hypothyroidism in dogs is when issues with the thyroid gland affect a dog’s metabolic rate leading to weight gain. If your dog’s thyroid gland is underactive it means it isn’t working as it should to manage their metabolic rate. This rate is responsible for how your dog converts calories into energy and the storage of fat. This can be diagnosed with a simple blood test so if you notice your dog gaining excessive weight, dull fur and slow hair growth these could all be signs indicating your dog is suffering from hypothyroidism.
Strategies to Help Your Dog Lose Weight
One of the main ways to help your dog lose weight is to choose the right food for them. Choosing a balanced formula of protein, vegetables, fat and carbohydrates is the right method for managing your dog’s weight. Cheaper and more commercial brands of dog food tend to use less high-quality ingredients and bulking agents that can irate our dog’s digestion and increase the likelihood of overconsumption and weight gain. Opt for food that is natural, high-quality and made with the finest ingredients to support your dog’s nutrition and weight.
Another factor contributing to weight gain in dogs is treats. Your dog’s treats should exceed no more than 10% of their diet and any more can lead to piling on extra pounds. Opt for healthy and low-calorie treats to support your dog’s nutrition. Vegan dog treats have taken the world by storm for their incredible ingredients packed with pawfuls of nutrition supporting not just weight management but your dog’s overall health and well-being. Low-fat treats including those made with root vegetables like carrots, pumpkin and leafy greens like spinach and kale are low in calories but help contribute to a better and healthier digestion.
Exercise is a fundamental tool for helping your dog lose weight. With summer fast approaching, there is no better time to get your dog out and about as days are brighter and longer – just remember to keep dogs out of direct heat around the hours of 11-3 pm. In addition to outdoor exercise, try adding a little more play to your dog’s indoor routine. Interactive and moving treat toys can manage over-eating and boost mental stimulation. Take time to play with your dog at home by either tug toys or trick training like rolling over, jumping up or spinning around. These can all increase your dog’s exercise levels and strengthen the bond between you.
Monitoring Your Dog’s Progress
Visual inspections and weigh-ins at your local vet are a great way of managing your dog’s weight loss journey. At many veterinarians, you can weigh your dog for free with scales located in the reception area so both you and your vet can keep a record of their progress.
Progress in your dog’s weight loss journey may include increased energy, increased motivation to go for walks and play and key visual signs such as reduced fat around the tummy and ribs. So, with simple changes to their diet, exercise and routine, you can help your dog shed those unwanted pounds and help keep their bodies happier, healthier and more wholesome for longer.
]]>Does your dog struggle to settle and keep you up at night? Well, there could be some simple solutions to eradicate your dog’s unease during the night and give both of you the vital twenty winks you need when the sun goes down. So, with pet health at the forefront of our ethos, here’s our top ten sleeping tips that every dog owner should know.
Stick to a Routine
For all parents out there, establishing a routine in the first few years of your child’s life is key to ensuring bedtime is calm, relaxed and as stress-free as possible. Just like their tiny human counterparts, dogs require the same level of routine during their development and training to establish a calm and cosy bedtime. Creatures of habit, dogs thrive on routine so establish a bedtime and wakeup time and stick to it – even on the weekends.
Create Comfort
Could you imagine falling asleep without a comfortable bed and blankets? Creating a cosy and comfortable sleeping area for your dogs is vital to giving them a safe and secure sanctuary where they can unwind after a hard day of play and stimulation. Keep your dog’s sleeping area clean, draft and dust-free as an unkept sleeping area can attract unwanted pests like bed bugs and dust mites – nasty for your dog’s skin and fur. If your dog doesn’t sleep with you, place their bed and sleeping area in a cool, quiet and dark room where they can settle without any distractions or disturbance.
Exercise Regularly
Regular exercise and stimulation are vital to calming your dog in the evening. Dogs who do not go out on regular walks and are unexercised throughout the day are more likely to exhibit attention-seeking or even destructive behaviours to get their owner’s attention for playtime. If your dog is left at home during the day whilst you are at work, try and exercise your dog before you go to work but give them a longer and more cardio-intense workout in the evening such as a run or game of fetch.
However, what is really important is that you exercise your dog either prior or a minimum of 1-2 hours after their evening meal. For intense exercises like fetch, dogs who have just eaten can accidentally twist their stomachs when play is introduced after food – an irreversible and often fatal health issue and one that is easily avoided.
Exercising your dog for the right amount each day can help reduce their activity at night keeping them calm, relaxed and ready for bed.
Limit Food & Water Throughout the Night
A dog’s digestive system works much quicker than ours and they tend to digest food at a faster rate than us humans. Therefore, avoiding feeding your pet just before bedtime reduces the likelihood, they will need the bathroom or have digestive discomfort whilst they are attempting to sleep. Provide water during the day and during the night but encourage drinking and hydration throughout the day. Increased thirst and water intake can indicate health issues, so it is always best to discuss any changes in your dog’s drinking with their veterinarian. Reducing their water intake at night can help alleviate any accidents or need to go to the bathroom disturbing both us and them in the process.
Keep Your Dog Cool
With warmer weather just around the corner, creating a cosy and cool sleeping environment can help reduce the likelihood of your dog overheating at night. Dogs are unable to regulate their body temperatures so provide a cool space for your dog to sleep. Provide them with a fan, cool mat or a small damp towel to help keep them cool and calm. However, ensure your dog isn’t exposed to extremely cold temperatures as this can have a negative impact and leave your dog vulnerable to coughs and colds.
Use Soothing Sounds
For those who choose for their dogs to sleep in an alternative room to their own, creating a safe and stress-free environment is easier than you think. Adding a radio or sound system to play soothing sounds like classical music or even white noise machines designed specifically for dogs can help alleviate any stress and help your furry friend drop into a deep and dreamful sleep.
Reduce Anxiety
Supporting your dog’s mental health can help contribute to a healthier and happier pup. Anxiety is one of the primary reasons dogs suffer from disturbances during the night so helping to keep them calm and anxiety-free can help support their health more than ever. Try adding calming sprays to their sheets and blankets before bedtime or adding calming supplements and treats to their daily diet to relax both their brains and bodies when the sun goes down.
Address Medical Issues
Any changes to your dog’s behaviour, even at night, should be discussed with their vet. If you notice your dog visiting the bathroom more or having accidents during the night could be a sign of an undiagnosed issue such as diabetes which will need to be addressed with their veterinarian as soon as possible. Dogs with flat faces or known as brachycephalic breeds are more susceptible to respiratory problems due to a narrowed windpipe reducing the amount of oxygen, they intake. Monitor your dog during the night if they are a flat-faced breed and consult your vet if you have any concerns.
Consider a Crate
Is your dog destructive during the night? Do you know more accidents during the night? Well, investing in a crate could be the solution to destructive and attention-seeking behaviour. Providing your dog with a create can reduce the likelihood of your pooch wandering around at night and keep them calm, safe and secure when the lights go out.
Be Patient
Our final tip for helping to ensure your dog sleeps better each and every night is the power of patience. Throughout any episodes of training or establishing a routine, it is vital for you to stay positive and patient with your dog. Dogs will always respond more effectively to positive reinforcement than negative punishment so if your dog is taking a little longer to stick to their new bedtime routine – be patient and realise that it will take time but when the time is right your dog will master exactly what you want them to do.
So, with our top tips to help to give both you and your dog the night sleep you deserve, make some simple changes to their daily routine and before you know it you will both get the twenty winks and the rest and relaxation each and every night.
Read more: Sweet Dreams: How to Calm Your Dog & Help Them Sleep Better
]]>Helping to improve digestion and containing vital vitamins and nutrients, oats can be a super supplement to your dog’s nutrition giving them a little extra TLC where needed. Want to know about the superpowers of porridge oats? Read below about how why this incredible ingredient can be just what your four-legged friend needs.
Nutritional Benefits of Oats for Dogs
Great for Sensitive Stomachs
One of the primary benefits of rolled oats for your dog is the fact that they are exceptionally low in gluten. Often commercial dog food and treats use bulking ingredients like wheat, barley, potatoes and rice to create that filling power in our dog’s food. Overexposure to these ingredients can lead to intolerances and allergies which can be reduced and controlled with a simple replacement of these ingredients making oats a great addition to the diet of dogs who suffer from gluten intolerances.
Helps Your Dogs Digestion
In addition to its awesome filling power and benefits for sensitive stomachs, oats are also packed with pawfuls of natural fibre. Fibre is vital for a healthy digestive system. Fibre helps to regulate bowel movements and keep your dog’s digestive tract healthy and toxin-free. Regulating their poops and steading the digestive timeline – oats are a great addition to a dog’s diet who may suffer from troublesome tummies.
Supports Muscle Maintenance
Loaded with vitamins like B and iron, oats are a great way of maintaining your dog’s cardiovascular system, energy levels and muscle maintenance. Oats are a fantastic addition to the diet of puppies and senior dogs who may need a little extra TLC to maintain how their muscles are working. Furthermore, working dog breeds or highly active dogs like spaniels, retrievers and greyhounds can benefit from adding iron to their diets to keep up with their busy and bounding lifestyle.
Oats for Weight Management
Notice your dog putting on a little extra weight and want some simple solutions to combat that excess fat? Well, oats are an amazing addition to your dog’s daily dinners. Low in fat and calories, oats provide pawfuls of fantastic filling power without any unnecessary added calories helping you to manage a healthy weight for your four-legged friend.
In addition to their amazing weight-loss properties, and as mentioned before, oats are high in natural fibre helping to regulate the digestive system and keep your dog feeling fuller for longer minimising the risk of overeating and pilling on any extra puppy pounds.
Oats for Heart Health
As pet owners, we strive to do whatever we can to support the health of our dogs. One of the most important organs to care for in our furry friends is their hearts. Keeping their tickers in tip-top shape may seem like a tremendous task but caring for your dog’s heart is much easier than you might think.
Oats contain beta-glucans, a type of fibre, which help to lower cholesterol levels working at reducing the risk of developing heart disease and cardiovascular problems later in life. They are also packed with antioxidants which we know help filter toxins keeping the circulatory system in your dog’s body working exactly as it should.
Oats for Skin & Coat Health
One of the key signs your dog is a little under the weather is their coat. A coat and flaky skin are indicators that your dog’s body isn’t getting the nutrition it needs. As the largest organ in your dog’s body, taking care of their skin, and keeping it supple and smooth is vital for a healthy and happy pup.
Rich in biotin, oats are a great way of giving your dog’s skin a little bit more love. Promoting both healthy skin and a lush-looking coat, oats are also beneficial for dogs suffering from skin allergies like dermatitis aggravated by ingredients that they are intolerant to. Kind on tummies and skin, oats are an ingredient key to helping your dog’s coat and skin look and feel exactly as they should.
How to Incorporate Oats into Your Dog’s Diet
For those of you wondering how to add this incredible ingredient to your dog’s diet, we have taken all the stress and worry about adding oats to your dog’s daily diet. With some simple ways below, here’s how you can add oats to support your dog’s health and well-being.
Oat-so Beneficial
Nutritionally dense, high-in-fibre and packed with skin supplementing power, oats are a great way of taking care of your dog’s health in a simple way. Available alongside your own supermarket shop, this incredible ingredient can be added to your dog’s diet with ease. Whether it is creating homemade treats to sprinkling them onto their food, these flakes of oatey goodness are the pawfect way of helping to ensure your dog’s health and happiness thrive for many years to come.
]]>time a door is opened, a new set of allergens is introduced into your household. Your ac unit or central air system will also pull outside allergens into your home.It's a vicious cycle of you trying to keep the pollutants out and them trying to get in. If you suffer from allergies or respiratory illnesses, the quality of your indoor air can pose some serious health issues for you.
What if you have allergies and pets? It is possible to keep your indoor air quality up to par and still be able to enjoy the companionship and love that comes with owning a pet.
Let's take a look at both how your animals impact the quality of your indoor air and how the pollutants affect them, as well as some good practices to help make your air cleaner.
How does indoor air quality affect pets?
• Dust seems to settle, which means our little guys are closer to the ground and are breathing in much dirtier air than we are.
How do pets affect indoor air quality?
• Our furry little friends can also sometimes have a little odor associated with them. While we may become accustomed to those smells, they just add up to more pollutants in the air.
Tips for improving IAQ in a pet-friendly home
You can have great indoor air quality and still enjoy your animals. It may take a little work. But, it's worth every minute of it to make sure you and your little furry friends are happy and healthy.
- Heather Hernandez
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Acute kidney failure is an abrupt decline in function that occurs over a period of days. Dogs can develop acute kidney problems as a result of ingesting toxins, certain medications, tainted foods, etc. Other reasons for this type of kidney failure include decreased blood flow or oxygen delivery to the kidneys, infections and urinary obstruction among other causes.
Now, Did you know coconut is good for weight loss and a great detox aid for your dog? Coconut meat contains medium chained triglycerides, metabolised in a different manner to other triglycerides.
This fat is used as a source of energy transported directly to the liver rather than being stored as fat. Therefore MCTs in coconut can actually help stimulate your body's metabolism, leading to weight loss and management of weight.
Coconut is also known for its detoxifying effects on the body. So much so we say to begin with small amounts and increase over time as it rids your pet’s body of toxins rather efficiently. Simple, delicious, nutritious and best of all dogs LOVE them!
By fourtune, now is easy to find natural treats for kidney disease for your dog.
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