Important factors to consider for the protection of all family members

In response to the recent spike in pet food recalls, the ASPCA®’s (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) Animal Poison Control Center has some suggestions on how to best keep two-legged and four-legged family members safe:

1. Do your research. Salmonella is the contaminant that appears to be the cause of concern during this most recent round of pet food recalls.

The most important thing for pet owners to do if they suspect their dog’s food has been contaminated is to stop feeding their pet the recalled food immediately. If the pet shows signs of illness after eating a recalled pet food, a trip to the vet should be first on the list of to-dos, and then the food manufacturer should be notified.

*** Pet owners can identify the recalled foods by visiting the FDA’s website at www.fda.gov. ***

2. Know the signs. While healthy adult dogs are relatively resistant to illness from Salmonella bacteria, pets with health issues (such as young puppies, elderly and pregnant dogs that could have compromised immune systems) may be at greater risk for becoming ill. Dogs who are affected by Salmonella may exhibit symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, fever, lethargy, and drooling or panting—an indication of nausea. *In severe cases, the bacterium may spread throughout the body resulting in death.

3. Clean is key. Salmonella isn’t only dangerous to the pet eating the food, but could also affect the pet parent serving the food. Salmonella can be spread through direct contact with the affected product and animal feces, so exposure should be avoided. The best way to protect family members, including other animals in the home, is to thoroughly wash your hands (or paws) after any dealings with the product or feces. In addition, all bowls, utensils and surfaces that may have come in contact with contaminated food should be washed using hot soapy water and rinsed thoroughly or sanitized in the dishwasher.

For more information about the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center and potential pet toxins, visit www.aspca.org/apcc.

As veterinary care has become more advanced over the years, the cost of treatment has gone up accordingly. Your dog or cat can now receive treatments once thought only for humans, from radiation therapy to organ transplants. The use of imaging such as MRI is also becoming more common in the office of veterinarians. According to the ASPCA, new developments in pet healthcare meant that pet owners spent $13 billion on veterinary care in 2010.

While the advanced treatment options mean that with dog insurance or cat insurance, your pet receives a better standard of care and may live longer, it also means you may pay more to keep your pet healthy. Because of these rising costs, some people make the decision when they get a pet to put it down if it becomes very ill or injured.

But in the heat of the moment, making the actual decision to put a precious pet to sleep can prove more difficult than previously expected. Purchasing cat or dog insurance when a pet is healthy means treatment may be covered and euthanasia can be avoided.

Coverage and Deductibles

Most pet insurance plans have a deductible. The deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket for your pet’s health care. The amount varies from plan to plan and is determined by how high the premium of the plan is. An average deductible may be around $100 per year.

After the deductible, you may still have to pay a small amount of the cost of treatment out of pocket. Many insurance plans pay for 80 to 90 percent of the costs, meaning you have to pay the remaining 10 or 20 percent. Coverage can vary depending on the treatment your pet needs as well.

Premiums

The cost of pet insurance depends on the amount of coverage you receive and the company you decide to work with. The premium also depends on the type of pet you have. Keep in mind that you have multiple pets, you will need to purchase a separate plan for each pet—one plan does not cover multiple animals.

Premiums can range from around $20 per month to over $100. In most cases, if you want to cover preventative and wellness care, you need to pay an extra amount each month. Wellness care coverage will take care of the costs of vaccines, a yearly exam, and spaying or neutering a pet. Some wellness care options include the cost of dental care as well.

Choosing a Vet

Pet insurance does not limit who you can take your pet to see. You do not have to choose a veterinarian from a list of providers or change vets once you enroll in most plans. In many cases, you do not need a referral or pre-authorization.

What’s Not Covered

Not every insurance plan covers every disease or condition. A number of plans exclude congenital disorders. For example, hip dysplasia is a congenital disease in certain breeds of dogs and some insurance companies do not cover it. If your pet has a congenital disease, look for a plan that covers them. You may also need to look into dog arthritis treatment.

Some plans also do not cover pre-existing conditions. Those plans will not help you if your pet already has a medical condition.

Making the Decision

In the end, whether you get pet insurance or not depends on your specific situation. Some breeds of dog or cat need more medical care than others, so pet insurance is a good way to insure against high medical costs down the road. You can save on the cost of health care for a pet by choosing a breed that does not experience as many health problems.

Whether you have a pet now or are looking for one, it’s important to do your research first. Compare plans from a number of different providers. Make sure the plan covers your pet’s specific health needs and that the plan will cover your pet based on his age. Some plans have age limits while others do not. Keep your pet healthy and schedule regular vet appointments for him, whether you decide to purchase pet insurance or not.

About the author:

Elli is a writer YourLocalSecurity.com. She was born and raised in Colorado & now enjoys skiing, playing tennis, and hiking in the mountains of Salt Lake City, Utah.

The month of April brings lots of fun stuff from Hill’s!

Did you know that National Hairball Awareness Day is…uh hum, “coming up” on April 27???

It’s sure to not only be informational but lots of fun!

Hill’s will be featuring the Hairball Battle Game on their Facebook page, there will be a video that talks about the amount of hair your cat consumes just grooming itself (starring Roady, a Hill’s’ employee kitty) and more!

Enter now online for your chance to win a gift basket for your special cat. **Gift basket will include a free bag of Hill’s® Science Diet® Hairball Control cat food and a $20 Petco gift card!

Roady the Hill's Hairball Spokescat!

Roady is here to help me tell everyone about the amount of cat hair he (as an average cat – albeit, he’s NOT average wink wink) will consume over a year’s time simply grooming himself.

Did you know an average cat will actually consume 173 grams of hair over a year???!!!

Take a peek at the video to see just how much cat hair that is!

Remember to play the Hairball Battle Game and Happy Hairball Awareness Month!

Also, stay tuned on ThoughtsFurPaws for a Hill’s Science Diet pet food giveaway!

In two days, I will be announcing the Hill’s pet food giveaway contest!

The Royal Canin dog food team, like many others, attended the mega-pet conference Global Pet Expo in Orlando in late February.

There, in celebration, the generous dog food company partnered with a local Orlando rescue organization, Florida Little Dog Rescue featuring its small, adoptable dogs, to launch a new product,  Royal Canin X-SMALL BREED dog food formula.

Florida Little Dog Rescue helped Royal Canin at the show by bringing attention to them and their new X-SMALL Breed dog food, made for dogs under eight pounds; Royal Canin, in turn, helped the group by featuring their dogs for adoption.

* If you’re interested, you can see pix (and read about the seven rescue dogs adopted at the Expo) on their Facebook page. * (Here is the Royal Canin USA Facebook page.)

1. Global Pet Expo attendees were asked to participate in short five-minute trainings to learn about the innovation and nutrition behind these new foods.
2. For each training session completed, Royal Canin donated a bag of food to Florida Little Dogs Rescue.
3. The result? In three days, attendees raised a donation of more than 2,500 bowls of food for the rescue! Cool, huh?

So why am I telling you this, besides the facts that this kind-hearted pet food brand is so helpful and generous, and that they’ve launched a new dog food product?

Well, to celebrate the launch of the new X-SMALL dog foods (formulated specifically for dogs weighing less than eight pounds), ThoughtsFurPaws.com is hosting a super-valuable giveaway with them. I’m giving away two “Doggy Day Spa” gift packs specialized, like the brand’s new food, for little dogs.

Each, including the last item that ThoughtsFurPaws added itself, is valued at over $100 and contains:

- A small bag of Royal Canin’s new X-SMALL dog food
- Oatmeal and baking soda shampoo
- Grooming lead (for easier bathing sessions)
- Natural grooming wipes
- Microfiber Pet Towels (pack of 5)
- Grooming brush
- Toothbrush and toothpaste combo pack
- Nail trimmer
… And for good measure and since I’m a proud supporter of PetArmor® and since this fits with the theme, I’m throwing in a pack of PetArmor® so you can properly arm your pet’s cute little rear end (and whole body!) against fleas and ticks this season.

So how do you enter and win?

Well, I’d like you to tell me in the comments below why you think your dog would benefit from this interior and exterior makeover, and/or why he/she needs it most.

You can also write about it on your blog and then come back and leave me a link to your link in the comments…

… Or you can Tweet about it and leave me a link to your Tweet in the comments.

Don’t forget to support Royal Canin!

Results will be posted on ThoughtsFurPaws.com in three weeks on Friday, April 27th.

It’s official – PetArmor^®, the AWESOMEST, the best flea and tick treatment in the world if you ask me, made by FidoPharm — that I told you guys about last spring –  is the official “sponsor” or “treatment” of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA^®) through the rest of the year! How cool is that?

And Amy Smart is the official spokesperson for the ASPCA and the launch!

With the official arrival of spring and the official beginning of a horrible flea and tick season, PetArmor^® has teamed up with the ASPCA^®, plus the super sweet shelter animal advocate and kind-hearted PetArmor^® spokesperson Amy Smart to launch the PetArmor^® Protection Promise.

The national campaign elevates the ongoing commitment PetArmor^® and the ASPCA share to protect pets in need. 

*** PetArmor^® is the No. 1 selling fipronil generic flea and tick treatment.***

- PetArmor^® has the same No. 1 veterinarian recommended active ingredient and offers the same flea and tick protection as Frontline^® Top Spot^®

- It costs, however, about half of what Frontline costs ($25 – $35 for a 3-month supply).

- As I said before, PetArmor works the same way as Frontline, providing full-body protection to help keep your pets flea and tick free. And they stay gone for 30 days.

It’s that simple. PetArmor is just as safe and effective as Frontline®. It’s just about 50% cheaper! And it’s available retail:)

“We are so thrilled to work with the ASPCA to launch the PetArmor^® Protection Promise and give pet lovers an opportunity to help shelter pets in need,” said FidoPharm President Alex Kaufman at the launch. “PetArmor^® is continuing its commitment to provide accessible, affordable treatments to all pets, and the Promise is a way for pet owners to protect their furry family members while also making a difference for shelter pets across the country.”

♥ ♥ The cool part of all of this? A select few bloggers involved in the “Pet Protection Posse” are a part of the Promise… but also – The PetArmor^® Protection Promise is offering pet lovers and dog and cat owners an opportunity to help pets in need, especially those in shelters across the country.♥ ♥

BACKGROUND:

Across most of the country, “spring has sprung a little early.” Winter was remarkably mild, with many places around the country experiencing unseasonably warm temperatures & a definite lack of snow.¹

(According to Jody L. Gangloff-Kaufmann, an urban entomologist at Cornell University and the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program, freezing weather typically kills off some insects, whereas in a mild winter, bugs are free to be fruitful and multiply. Subsequently, this year mosquitoes, fleas and ticks could all be out in full force considerably earlier than usual.²)

(END BACKGROUND!)

To provide all dogs and cats with protection from harmful fleas and ticks, PetArmor^® is embarking on a campaign to provide treatments to pets from coast to coast.  PetArmor^® will distribute up to 20,000 flea and tick treatments for shelter pets in need from coast-to-coast. Consumers can participate by visiting the PetArmor^® Facebook page and selecting a shelter to receive a treatment. 

This is an amazing effort on behalf of an organization if you ask me… this is a SERIOUS investment on their part (PetArmor). After meeting with some PR reps, vets, scientists, associated behaviorists like Harrison Forbes (who is my newest animal welfare hero BTW) and company executives this week; I am pleased to say that I fully support their mission 110% and am going to ask you all to help me spread the word!

…

How?

Visit the PetArmor^® Facebook page and choose where the donations go in one of three ways:

1. by supporting the ASPCA’s national disaster relief efforts

2. selecting a shelter that faces a high incidence of fleas and ticks

3. choosing a local shelter

“As an animal rescue advocate and proud dog mom, I am so excited to be working with the ASPCA and PetArmor^® on this wonderful campaign that supports a cause I care so deeply about,” said Smart. “I encourage pet owners everywhere to participate in the Promise and help ensure all pets receive the protection they need.”

The PetArmor^® Facebook page also gives pet owners the chance to share photos of their furry friends, celebrate those funny and memorable pet moments with a robust community of fellow pet owners, and enter contests throughout the year offering a chance to win some great prizes.

As the exclusive flea and tick sponsor of the ASPCA, PetArmor^® is used on dogs and cats at the ASPCA’s Adoption Center and Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital and clinics in New York City. ASPCA also uses PetArmor^® on animals recovered from ASPCA disaster relief efforts. Through select television commercials, PetArmor^®also is encouraging the public to make donations that they will match, up to $50,000.

Amy Smart

“Our increased work in disaster relief and animal rescue over the last year has underscored the importance of safeguarding animals from fleas and ticks and other harmful diseases,” said Elysia Howard, vice president of marketing and licensing for the ASPCA.  “We are thankful to PetArmor^® for their ongoing commitment to protecting pets in need, and for their pledge to provide much needed doses to shelters across the country for the animals in their care.”

So, once again, you can help shelter pets in need by participating in the PetArmor® Protection Promise! Now through May 2012, one flea and tick treatment will be donated to the ASPCA®, or to a shelter of your choice. (up to 20,000 doses). All you need to do is choose where your treatment will go to protect pets in need by going to Facebook.com/PetArmor!

About PetArmor^®

PetArmor^® contains fipronil, the same No. 1 vet-recommended active ingredient for combating fleas and ticks, in the same concentration, providing the same flea and tick protection as Frontline^® Top Spot^®. It is the first generic fipronil product approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to treat both cats and dogs of all sizes.

PetArmor^® is the first generic fipronil flea and tick treatment available on retail shelves nationwide. Forget about prescriptions or asking the vet for it!

For more information about the product or to participate in the Protection Promise, visit www.PetArmor.com or www.facebook.com/PetArmor.

About FidoPharm

FidoPharm is a leading companion pet health product company committed to providing consumers with best-in-class companion pet health products that contain the same active ingredients as branded veterinary products, but at a significantly lower cost. FidoPharm products, including the PetArmor® flea and tick products, are available at major retailers nationwide, offering consumers the benefits of convenience and cost savings to ensure the highest quality care for their pets. Learn more at www.PetArmor.com.

About the ASPCA

Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is the first humane organization established in the Americas and serves as the nation’s leading voice for animal welfare. More than two million supporters strong, the ASPCA’s mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. The ASPCA, which is headquartered in New York City, offers a wide range of programs, including a mobile clinic outreach initiative, its own humane law enforcement team, and a groundbreaking veterinary forensics team and mobile animal CSI unit. For more information, please visit www.aspca.org. To become a fan of the ASPCA on Facebook, go to www.facebook.com/aspca. To follow the ASPCA on Twitter, go to www.twitter.com/aspca.

Frontline^® is the registered trademark of Merial.  Frontline^® and Merial are not affiliated with PetArmor^®.

^1,2

: On the Net: http://www.livescience.com/18351-mild-winter-surprising-downsides-warm-weather.html

** STAY TUNED FOR MORE POSTS ON THIS AND FOR SOME PICTURES OF AMY SMART WITH MYSELF AND OTHER BLOGGERS AND SOME SWEET RESCUE KIDS!**

Two weeks ago or so, I had the fortune of going to Hills Pet Nutrition Center after being invited and hosted by the Hill’s Prescription Diet® and Hill’s Science Diet® pet food brands’ big brand, Hill’s®.

They, like many other pet food companies including Purina, are starting to open their doors to bloggers and online writers as the realization spreads that we are the 21st century form of consumer reviews… and that ALL companies need to be more transparent to their customers. (Don’t get me started.)

Anyhow, I am excited to tell you about my trip and I’ll have some separate posts every couple of weeks about other things at Hill’s.

So first I will give a quick (or not) bullet review of what I took away…:

- Hill’s is extremely focused on nutrition and creating formulas for pets with various medical and health conditions

- Hill’s has a TON of acclaimed veterinarians and scientists who create their foods based on the pets’ life stage, health condition and/or size

- Hill’s does animal testing, but it’s food testing, it’s NOT INVASIVE PEOPLE… They do side by side bowl testing. What I witnessed first-hand was in total opposition to what you will read on outdated and offensive sites like Uncaged. I won’t link to it…) There is NO abuse or neglect happening at Hill’s Pet Nutrition Center. Watch the videos…

- The cats that are used for food testing are extremely happy; and they’re extremely smart – taking doses of medication like a human would down a shot so they can get some attention afterwards as a reward! The cat care is amazing:) !

- The folks here are quite dedicated to pleasing the pet’s palette in this process

- The animals are well-trained and know their schedules; they have space to move and are not in teeny cages, suffering or whining. They are HAPPY:)

- Hill’s has some of the most intelligent veterinarians and nutritionists in the industry

- Hill’s is very into label manufacturing – ensuring its guests understand how to read a pet food bag or can’s label correctly (I’ll explain later)

- Hill’s is very involved in the community, supporting the Kansas Humane Society of Wichita through it’s Food, Shelter and Love™ Program (LOTS more on this in a separate post)

- This one-of-a-kind program has donated over $240 million worth of Science Diet brand pet foods to nearly 1,000 animal shelters nationwide

- Hill’s has been right by the side of other agencies during national and international emergencies like the Joplin, MO tornadoes, the 2010 Gulf Coast BP oil spill, and the Japan tsunami, bringing along their Hill’s pet food to donate. Heavily involved in disaster relief, yet seemingly unnoticed and under the radar while doing it, Hill’s also helped generously during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, during the Calif. wildfires of 2007, and they’ve donated other items, too to vet clinics, Vet Assistance Teams, vet schools & other random places where homeless pets are being cared for and housed.

- Hills has a brand-spankin’ new manufacturing plant where they are seriously dedicated to quality, cleanliness, safety, value, nutrition, taste and manufacturing and developing only the most perfect kibble.

- At the Emporia, Kansas manufacturing plant, where the folks are as sweet as southern summers, if one piece of kibble is broken, it doesn‘t go in the bag – it gets thrown away… the imperfect pieces of kibble that have ends cut off, are cracked or fragmented get tossed. This seemed wasteful to me. (Sorry, just being honest and saying what I saw.)

——————————-

So, now you have things in a nutshell. There is lots more – I mean, this tour was chock-ful of information packed into a a teeny two-day timeline. The first day we spent learning from the folks at Corporate and the Veterinarians, then we took a VERY short tour (oddly short I thought… kinda hands-off) of the Pet Nutrition Center; the second day we spent at the Manufacturing Plant in Emporia, Kansas, which is only three years old.

This trip was of particular interest to me because last spring I toured the Nutrition Center (et. al.) at Proctor & Gamble Pet Care, i.e. IAMS/Eukanuba (and a few others).

I was curious how Hill’s® runs their show because, unlike IAMS, we HAD fed Hill’s® pet food to our animals before. There was a time about five years ago when Gibson was still alive that he and Benson were on Hill’s®.

And, in February I did get a generous sample from the company of the wet Savory Chicken Entree canned cat food for the our kittehs. The kind Marketing/Blogger Outreach Mgr., Lori Smith — who is one of the sweetest, most caring and kind-hearted people I’ve ever met — hooked me up!

Anyways, Sasha, sorry to say, did not like it and Max, who has been super-surprisingly “P-I-C-K-Y – you-ain’t-got-no-alibi – you-PICKY, uh-huh, YOU PICKY” lately, didn’t care too much for it, but Tater ate it up and my sister’s two adult ladies LOVED LOVED LOVED it. They lapped it up like creme or something. The canned selections at Hill’s that we sampled did seem to be quite “watery” but I learned that it’s not water – it’s juice.

Which brings me to a point about Hill’s that I want to cover now – THE BASICS.

Let’s start with The Basics — their MISSION, which was explained to us by Neil Thompson the first morning; he’s the President and CEO. Thompson has been with the company in some capacity since 2003 and has contributed significantly to sales, international business growth and profit growth, and brought industry experience to the European division (He’s British and so enthralling…!)

Hill’s Mission: “… to help enrich and lengthen the special relationships between people and their pets.”

Philosophy: “We believe all animals, from your pet to our pet partners, should be cared for and nurtured, throughout their lifetime.”

- Hill’s Pet Nutrition is a $2.2 billion, global subsidiary of Colgate-Palmolive, headquartered in Topeka, KS

- Over 2,500 employees worldwide

- Hill’s product line includes more than 80 Prescription Diets and 90 Science Diet brand pet foods

- “To deliver great-tasting, precisely balanced nutrition, a Hill’s team of more than 150 vets, nutritionists, and food scientists, among the largest in the industry, collaborates globally.”

- Since 2002, The Hill’s Shelter Nutrition Partnership, the largest company-sponsored shelter support program in the industry, has donated more than $180 million worth of Science Diet brand pet foods to more than 1,000 shelters nationwide. This provides about 500 million nutritious meals for shelter pets and helps more than 5 million pets find new homes! (Separate post about this to follow!)

Vision: to make nutrition a cornerstone of vet medicine, which build on Hill’s heritage of leading-edge research, from the pioneering work of our founder Dr. Mark L. Morris to our current global exploration of the science of Nutrigenomics (separate post to follow on Nutrigenomics — it’s AWESOME stuff!).

Soooo… here you have it. The first impression of what Hill’s is all about in not a nutshell. I loved the people there – everyone is an animal lover and is passionate and knowledgeable. Everyone was extremely courteous and you could tell that that’s just the way it is there — kinda laid-back but totally cutting-edge research into nutrition happening behind the scenes! All to help our fur-babies.

Stay tuned for more posts on Hill’s, including an Animal Welfare round-up, a 5th Vital Assessment review, a Nutrigenomics lesson, and more!

Spring Naturals, who you have read about before on ThoughtsFurPaws – just Search it – is all about vitality, a fresh state of mind. It’s the feeling you get when you consider the abundance of life, and the good things from earth that grow and thrive.

It was this concept that inspired the creation of Spring Naturals – a complete family of natural dinners and treats designed to nurture the health and well-being of dogs of any breed.

And now, this concept of growing and thriving in the community will touch residents and pets in need across the United States through “Spring Into Action.”

Spring Naturals is launching the “Spring Into Action” program – starting in May – to recognize outstanding community members who are making a difference in the lives of animals in need.

In addition to honoring animal advocates on the Spring Naturals Facebook page,they will also recognize the animal rescue group of the everyday hero’s choice.

So, each month an everyday hero will be chosen and the animal rescue group they support will be highlighted on the Spring Naturals Facebook page; each winner will receive a 26 lb. bag of Spring Naturals dog food along with a 6 oz.treat pouch (estimated retail value over $75.). Next March, the selected grand prize winner’s favorite animal rescue organization or shelter will receive $2,000 (retail value) in Spring Naturals dog food PLUS a $500 cash donation! COOL!

According to the press release, ““At Spring Naturals, we value the pets in our lives and wanted to find a way to give the spotlight to everyday heroes working day in and day out to save the lives of pets in need,” said Rob Cadenhead, VP-Sales & Marketing. “With the idea of supporting those on the front lines of animal welfare, ‘Spring Into Action’ was born!”

To celebrate the first day of spring, Spring Naturals also teamed up with Project Rescue Chicago, an organization that is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and re-homing of abandoned dogs. Project Rescue Chicago is one of the few rescue groups where the directors spend every single day with the dogs to ensure adopters find their perfect match.

In honor of this program, Project Rescue Chicago named an adoptable dog Spring. When Spring is adopted, Spring Naturals will provide food and treats for the dog for one year. For more information about Project Rescue Chicago, please visit www.projectrescuechicago.org.

To learn more about Spring Naturals, please visit www.springnaturals.com or www.facebook.com/SpringNaturals.

I am happy to share with you the conversation I had with well-respected Florida veterinarian, Dr. Ernie Ward. From his home in North Carolina, Dr. Ward shared a major announcement on behalf of IAMS – that a new formula for super senior pets (ages 11+) is being created and offered!

Did you know there are over 33 million super senior aged pets? Those over 11-years-old? It’s a whole new life stage…

“For the first time, we can do something from a nutritional standpoint for these types of senior pets,” he said. “This formula is one of the first of its kind on the market and I highly recommend it to my patients.”

Here’s what I learned about it… Also, I’m going to tell you another exciting thing!

Iams Senior Plus or Premium Protection Line can be bought anywhere – and is a new formula for dogs and cats ages 11+ (for large breed dogs, the recommended age is 9+); it’s the first of its kind ever for dogs and one of the first formulas for cats.

Dr. Ward told me of the specific ingredients and their benefits, which are designed to meet the unique needs of senior pets. The super senior diet for any animal has special needs; these animals sometimes have arthritis, bacterial infections, digestion problems, etc., or other conditions and thus, require certain ingredients.

IAMS Super Senior Dogs!

These are additives like:

-          L-Carnitine for lean muscle mass

-          Double the amount of antioxidants

-          Omega Fatty-3 Acids

-          Pre-biotics like beet pulp

-          FOS formula to feed the good bacteria as seniors often have digestion issues

-          A unique blend of vitamins and minerals and tasty meats!

-         Beta-carotene and vitamin E, to help boost the immune system of your older dog to healthy adult levels

Plus MORE!

The taste is the same as the rest of the foods; IAMS is committed to meat as the first ingredient as usual!

When I asked Dr. Ward what he would tell my readers to do with their senior pets and what the most vital parts of caring for one are, he responded with the following:

1. Take your pet to the vet
2. Nutrition needs changing – don’t be shy about changing the diet of the pet
3. Engage the mental side of your pet
4. Try feeding from a food puzzle every once in a while
5. Variety and novelty are important in life!
6. EXERCISE is CRUCIAL!

* Calling All Senior Pets – IAMS is putting out a call to action on the Iams Facebook page to feature pictures of eight senior pets not acting their age.

The eight pets will be selected at random and will all win food for life! Check the IAMS Facebook page for more info!

Superior Health Options for Your Senior Dog; PSCPets.com Helps Dogs Get the Most Out of Senior Years

Pets deserve the best, but even more so as they approach their golden years. At PSCPets.com, pet parents will find many innovative pet products designed to promote the optimal health of furry senior companions…

Choice PSCPets senior products that ThoughtsFurPaws really likes include:

-  PSCPets Aging Support

PSCPets.com Healthy Dogs!

- PSCPets Daily Maintenance Soft Chews

- PSCPets Joint Assist Treats with Probiotics

What is the difference between a dog treat and a dog chew you ask?

So did we!

Like a treat, a chew is highly palatable and can be used as a reward, but it also is designed to help with a specific health/physical element. That being said, according to a PR rep for the brand who sent us a sample, a chew may have specific feeding directions (for example,”Feed 2 chews daily” or “1/2 chew at morning and 1/2 a chew at night”). A treat may have added vitamins and minerals but won’t offer the supplemental/health benefits or results of a chew.

That is the official difference.

“If I had to make a human comparison, a chew is like a gummy vitamin. It’s yummy and sweet but has the added nutritional benefits of a daily vitamin. However, (like a chew) gummy vitamins are not recommended to be eaten by the handful,” she added. Smart girl, eh?

Anyhow, like all PSCPets brand products, the high-quality, premium supplements are vet-formulated/developed & are produced in a state-of-the-art facility in Wisconsin. They’re also affordable – which is important to consumers during these times.

PSCPets.com Soft Chews for Dogs

Pet parents who have a senior dog or a pet that’s approaching the good ol’ golden years are embracing the new site; it offers everything a pet parent needs to help enhance Fido or Fluffy’s quality of life. At PSCPets.com, they’ll discover a number of innovative products designed to promote the optimal health of their senior companion.

Here are, again, a few healthy options for your furry friend.

-          PSCPets Aging Support is specially formulated to help support healthy joints and overall vitality in senior dogs. Available in both a cold-formed soft chew and chewable tablet form, this highly palatable formula includes important ingredients such as Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Perna Mussel and MSM to ensure aging canines have all the support they need to transition into their golden years with ease.

-          PSCPets Daily Maintenance Soft Chews are designed to supplement the nutritional needs of working, active and adult dogs, as well as senior dogs of all sizes and breeds. This scientifically balanced formula contains a powerful combination of essential vitamins and chelated minerals (organic forms of minerals in animals’ food, i.e., forms of essential trace minerals such as copper, iron, manganese and zinc, according to Wikipedia) to help support the health of all adult dogs. These are available in Small and Medium/Large Dog soft chew-size.

-          PSCPets Joint Assist Treats with Probiotics are distinctively crunchy treats with a peanut butter flavor dogs simply love. These lactose-free treats contain Glucosamine to help maintain joint and tissue function as well as strong bones, plus Chondroitin which has been shown to help increase the efficiency of Glucosamine. They also contain beneficial bacteria that help support and maintain dogs’ gastrointestinal health.

Like all PSCPets brand products, these quality supplements are veterinarian formulated/developed, and are produced in a state-of-the-art facility in Wisconsin. Thanks to the website’s Live Chat feature and receptive customer support dept., visitors can get helpful advice from an expert service rep.

To learn more about other senior dog’s options, visit the PSCPets brand senior pet product page here.

According to my pal at the pet PR company, the American Pet Products Association says that 62 percent of US families own a pet… that means up to 72.9 million homes have an animal! The APPA also says that U.S. shoppers spent around $51 billion on their pets in 2011.

So meshing PSCPets pet supplies, supplements, chews and dog treats is a not only smart, it’s commonplace nowadays! PSCPets will make an appearance at the upcoming Global Pet Expo – in Orlando — Feb. 29 through March 2. Check ‘em out!

“The innovative products you’ll… meet [there] will soon be worn, licked or consumed by some of the luckiest pets in the nation,” she said!

Funny PSCPets.com Basset Hound Picture!

Look for PSCPets.com on Facebook; “Like” their new page @ www.Facebook.com/PSCPets.

About PSCPets.com

The PSCPets brand was created to provide customers with a brand they know they can trust. Their premium quality supplements are veterinarian formulated and developed, and produced in a state-of-the-art facility in America’s heartland, Wisconsin. Besides providing PSCPets branded healthcare solutions for your companion animal, pet parents can find a wide selection of health and wellness products from other top pet product manufacturers for sale on the PSCPets.com website. The e-commerce pet store supplies a convenient and economical way for pet parents to find trusted health and wellness solutions from the comfort of their home. For the full story, visit the PSCPets.com website or find them on Facebook at Facebook.com/PSCPets. Additional inquiries are invited to email CustomerCare@PSCPets.com.

Please send prayers out for us today as we are mourning; the two year-anniversary of our loss of Theodore is today, February 8^th. I remember typing this post six months after he passed – my grief hasn’t improved TOO TOO much…. I remember that first post – it got 85 comments.

The Sad Sunday six-month tribute has a beautiful poem called Living Love. I suggest you read it here if you’ve lost a pet… it’s touching and full of truth.

I remember that Monday morning like it was yesterday; I’m so sad just typing this that my fingers are shaking, my hands are unsteady and tears are pouring over my prized Pavilion keypad.

I miss Theodore and STILL don’t understand how I haven’t EVER grieved for anyone or anything like I do and have for him.

It just doesn’t make any sense to me.

Is it because he was the first thing I considered REALLY mine? The first thing/being that I raised, owned, bought (adopted), loved and taught? (Not like a first car or anything like that – almost like a human connection…?)

Am I NUTS or what?

Some of you might call me crazy for saying this; I think the Kitty Gods sent Mad Maxwell down to me to take Theodore’s place.

Max – especially over the last few months – has become SO MUCH like Dora that it’s downright uncanny. He sleeps in the same exact spots, he races me up the stairway at night in the same manner and launches himself from the foyer with the same precision that only a Jaguar has…  

Max also eats and treasures his crunchies and special upstairs (bedroom) crunchy-drawer like Theodore did. (Maybe a rescue cat always will eat like he’s starved…) Max even has the same personality elements – the silliness, the goofball demeanor, the blinky eyes when he’s tired or wants pets, the “I’m going to pretend to ignore you when I want attention” ‘tude.

Yes, I realize many cats have these traits – but Theodore took them “to a T,” no pun intended.

So is this the way that I have raised Max?

Or is it a Higher Power working so that I won’t be so sad in missing Doree (his nickname, which he despised because he told me that’s a girl name…)?

Let me know what you think…

Have you ever lost an animal and then felt like God (or Whom or Whatever you Believe In) sent you something else or someone to replace him/her?  I’m not just talking cats here – I’m talking dogs, horses, beloved friends, treasured fiancées, etc.

 *** The reason I have the Live Strong graphics up is because Theodore died – like so many cats and dogs – of cancer. Theodore had some type of andeocarcinoma, a very rare type of cancer. The vet did not remove all of it when he took the tumor and gall bladder out during the first surgery – as they cannot remove a cat’s entire bile duct. ***

Theodore tried SO HARD to pull through but he just couldn’t make it. I found him that Monday morning lying on my bedroom’s bathroom floor like a TRUE TOUGH-ASS TABBY, a FIGHTER FIRST-CLASS… He was hiding behind the toilet… As many of you know, when cats are really ill or feeling really bad, they hide instead of trying to let you know. They purr to try to comfort themselves. Sometimes, as in Dora’s case, this is a small, unrewarded effort to turn it around, but at least their little motors keep them going. That’s what I tell myself.

I can’t type anymore because I am crying so hard.

I love you Theodore and you will never be forgotten; you will always be missed greatly.

(And to Gibson (Gibby) – who passed just four days later from cancer – we will talk to you Sunday.)

Love, Mom