Health Products For People & Pets

Why Isn't Life's Abundance Dog & Cat Food Organic?

Over the past 6 years this is the most frequently asked question I would say people have. Most people have it in their minds that organic is always best.  We asked Dr Jane Bicks, formulator of HealthyPetNet products this question.  Here is her answer....

I would love to have an all organic food as long as it fit my mission statement. My mission is to formulate and produce food with the best nutrition I can give to a dog and cat.

Unfortunately, organic meats are still hard to come by. Just go to your supermarket and you will see the small section of organic meats. The price is high because there simply are not enough organic meats produced yet.

I can't find enough HIGH QUALITY organic meats for my formula every week. (We sell millions of pounds of food). You see, the best cuts of the organic meats go to the supermarkets and health food stores. The left overs (the trims) can be used for pet food. While the meat would be organic it would be the "throw away" parts such as the tendons, ligaments, and visa versa. Muscle meat and organ meat deliver optimum nutrition, not the later. Using organic meats today would violate my mission statement.

If you look at the label of organic foods you will notice that they contain large amounts of carbohydrates. While I believe that carbohydrates are necessary in a well formulated diet, the organic foods use more than I deem acceptable. They have to use carbohydrates to keep the cost down and to add some protein (carbohydrates have protein) because they can't get enough meat protein. I must have a fixed formula which means that the ingredients (type, amount) will never vary from bag to bag or can to can. Many dogs and cats will get GI upsets if amounts or types of ingredients change. Organic foods have non fixed formulas because they have to take what they can get.

I understand the importance of organic ingredients and embrace it. If you look at my Instinctive Choice you will see that I have a portion of organic chicken. Unfortunately there is not very much CONSISTENT organic chicken to use and unfortunately not enough for my entire formula.

IN SUMMARY: My mission is to give the dog and cat the best nutrition I know how to. Using organic ingredients would be a plus, above and beyond the excellent nutrition. It will take a few more years before organic becomes more available.

Dr. Jane

Click Herer to learn more about Life's Abundance Dog and Cat Food

Make The Holidays Safe For Pets

By following some simple tips, you can ensure a trouble-free holiday season for you and your pets.

There are some things from which you should shield your pets during the festive months.

Some common holiday plants are toxic to cats and dogs.  Don’t keep holly, poinsettias, lilies or mistletoe on or near the floor, where pets have easy access to them.

If you have a live tree in your home, don’t let pine needles accumulate on the floor, as these needles can perforate the intestinal lining of dogs and cats.  Additionally, trees should be tethered to a wall or the ceiling to prevent them from falling on pets.

Don’t leave unfamiliar extension cords fully exposed, as these can resemble chew toys, which could result in serious injury to your dog.  Never leave lights plugged in when you are not at home.

Don’t allow your companion animals to drink holiday tree water, as it quickly becomes stagnant and can contain harmful chemicals or bacteria.  Consider putting up a wire fence to restrict access to tree water, and to gifts (aka, tempting chewing targets).

If you are decorating with tinsel, hang it out of reach of your pets, especially cats, as they are known to eat tinsel, which can result in intestinal distress.

And here are some suggestions for things you should consider doing as the year wraps up.

Do your gift wrapping on an elevated surface, where your pets can’t get into (and consequently eat) string, paper and ribbons that can cause intestinal blockages.

This is a good time of the year to replace the batteries in your smoke detectors.  This helps to ensure the safety of the home and also avoids alarming your companion animals, as low batteries will often set off alerts that can scare your pets.

Encourage your holiday guests to refrain from feeding your companion animals human food, as this can result in diarrhea, vomiting and illness.

During the stress of the holidays, companion animals may drink more water, so be extra alert to providing this basic necessity.

Post your vet’s phone number in a prominent location, like your refrigerator.  This provides easy access to necessary information for anyone visiting your home, should a problem arise.

Thank you for all that you do to make the world a better place for companion animals.

Dr. Jane Bicks Tips for Washing Our Pets

Dear Dr. Jane: Can you give me some tips on the best way to bathe my dog please?

Dr. Jane's Answer: Sure! Here are some great tips for washing our pets.

1. Don't wash your pet outside unless you've found a way to get warm water out there. Cold water is not as enjoyable to pets as it is to us.

2. Don't use the bathtub. It can hurt your back and it's hard for your pet to get a grip. Instead, use the shower or the laundry room sink. The bigger the sink, the better.

3. Put towels on the floor before washing, because the floor will get soaked and you may slip.

4. If you're in fact using the sink or shower, put a rubber mat in it.

5. Use treat-giving to teach your dog to stay in the sink and to behave properly. This may not work with a cat

6. Use an eye ointment in your pet's eyes to protect them from the suds. If soap gets in the eyes, you can use a human eye rinse

7. Make sure their coats get really wet, especially water breeds that are meant to repel water and those with thick coats. A nice wet coat also helps the shampoo to lather up more luxuriantly. Use a curry brush in a circular motion to work the shampoo and exfoliate the skin

8. When washing, don't go above the neck to prevent the ear canal from becoming an actual ear canal…. full of water. If you really want to wash the head, use a moist wash cloth only. Remember to wash under the tail, which is a widely forgotten area

9. Avoid using a hair dryer, which can burn or irritate your pet. Use a towel for drying… that is, after your pet does its instinctual, infamous water-shake

10. Remember to take your time. Make sure you carve out meaningful time on a weekend to do this bonding activity with your pet. Have a radio on with some soothing music to calm both of you down, and talk gently. If you are erratic and rushing, your pet will feel it

And One More Important HealthyPetNet TipWhen it comes to washing your pet, you shouldn't use baby shampoo or human shampoo. Different types of shampoos are formulated for specific skin types. Instead, you should use a shampoo formulated especially for dogs and cats, like HealthyPetNet Spa Scents Revitalizing Shampoo for dogs and cats

What Causes Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease?

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) has many causes, few of  them dietary:

1. Cats need to drink more water. Studies have shown that cats simply don't drink enough water. I suggest that you give your cat fresh water in a ceramic dish rather than plastic or stainless steel. Cat fountains generally increase water intake because cats enjoy them. Since canned food provides water and nutrition I recommend feeding your cat canned food at least once daily. Instinctive Choice canned cat food provides excellent concentrated nutrition with a great taste. It includes an herb that holistic veterinarians recommend for a healthy urinary tract.

2. Cat food, dry or canned should produce a urinary pH of 6.6 – 6.8. Life's Abundance Cat Food and Instinctive Choice Canned Cat Food produce the proper urinary pH for a healthy urinary tract.

3. Stress can cause FLUTD. Stressful events include moving, keeping the cat alone for longer times, or adding another pet or person to the family.

4. Allergies can cause FLUTD. Veterinarians find that some cats will have urinary tract issues the same time every year.

5. Ash, and magnesium levels are NO longer thought to be primary causes of FLUTD.