Probiotics for Pets: Dogs and Cats

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria, the "good" or "friendly" bacteria that populate the entire digestive tract and play an important role in digestion, nutrient assimilation and immune system function. Unfortunately, many people have been lead to believe that all bacteria are harmful, but the reality is that we live in symbiosis with beneficial bacteria throughout our environment, and some of the most important are our friendly intestinal bacteria.
The average animal, depending on size, can have up to four pounds of bacteria in his body with the majority residing in the digestive tract. Your pet would become very ill or die without the right intestinal bacteria, and unfortunately this actually happens more often than most people realize. Many holistic veterinarians believe that imbalances in intestinal bacteria are a major factor in many of the chronic disorders that we see in our animals today. My experience with animals leads me to believe this is very true!
Probiotics play some vital roles in your animal's body such as:
*Help the digestive tract function properly by producing enzymes that aid digestion and the assimilation of nutrients.
*Manufacture B vitamins.
*Help lower cholesterol.
*Keep levels of pathogenic bacteria (E. coli, Salmonella and Helicobacter pylori) and pathogenic fungi (Candida albicans) in check by competing for available space and nutrients. In addition, beneficial bacteria produce antibiotic like substances and acidify the intestinal tract by producing lactic acid, both of which inhibit harmful bacteria growth and the toxins they produce.
*Protect against tooth decay and gum inflammation.
*Help to maintain a healthy mucous lining (mucosa) in the intestinal tract. This assists in the prevention of bacteria, food particles and toxins from entering the blood stream. The results of a damaged mucosa are often referred to as Leaky Gut Syndrome which contributes to allergy like symptoms, skin conditions, systemic infections, arthritis and other disease processes.
*Maintain or increase immune system health. Since 70% of the immune system in animals is found in the gastrointestinal tract, a healthy mucosal lining populated by beneficial bacteria is very important to preventing and fighting infection. In addition, beneficial bacteria are also found in the respiratory system where they help guard the body against invasion by harmful germs.
*Aid in the absorption of magnesium that is used for hundreds of different functions throughout the body. A magnesium deficiency can result in asthma and migraines and have other dramatic impacts on your pet's health.
*Synthesize vitamin K that is needed to clot the blood and keep bones strong.
Anything that places stress on the body can reduce levels of probiotics. Common culprits include poor diet, antibiotics, steroids, NSAIDs, surgery, medications, acute and chronic diarrhea, chlorinated water, artificial ingredients and preservatives in foods, toxins in food and the environment, and stress. Since many of these issues are hard to avoid, I feel that you should provide your pet with a quality probiotic supplement on a continuous basis to ensure that a healthy, viable population of beneficial bacteria are always present in the intestinal tract.
Probiotics would be specifically recommended in situations where there are symptoms of imbalance or in which healthy bacterial populations may be adversely affected making your animal susceptible to disease, such as with antibiotic or steroid use. An imbalance between friendly and unfriendly bacteria in the body plays a role in many of the chronic disorders we see today. Symptoms can include:
*Allergies and food sensitivities.
*Fatigue, constipation or diarrhea.
*Poor digestion that displays as gas or stomach pain.
*Poor nutrient assimilation that displays as weight loss or lack of weight gain.
*Painful joint inflammation or stiffness.
*Bad breath, gum disease and dental problems.
*Frequent infections.
*Chronic yeast problems, which display as itchy/infected ears/skin.
Supplementing with probiotics is easy and safe and a great insurance policy because not only do friendly bacteria decrease naturally in the body as your companion ages, but our animals come into contact with so many things in everyday life that reduce healthy intestinal flora.

My name is Philip Reich and I am co-founder of The Pet Health and Nutrition Center. I am an herbalist and at the time this article was written, I am nearing completion of my Master Herbalist studies. Having spent the last twenty years working with animals and studying natural healing, I hope the knowledge and experience I have attained can benefit the health and well-being of your animal companion(s) in some way.
The Pet Health and Nutrition Center was founded on the premise of providing only select pet products for concerned pet parents who want only the very best for their animals! We strive to be a place where people can trust that the products they purchase for their animals are the healthiest and safest available and can use as a resource for help and guidance with animal nutrition questions and pet health concerns.

How to Introduce Cats at Home

Cats are pretty jealous and selfish by nature. So when you introduce one new member to the already present pet cat strength, it may not like the fact that a new cat is here to 'share' its love! Many a times, it may so happen that the old and the new cats might end up fighting with each other and injuring each other grievously in the fight! To avoid any cat fights, you must make adequate arrangements to prevent any catfights!
Introducing a New Cat
One word of advice if you planned on introducing a new member to your pet family - Old cats which may have been enjoying unrestricted show of love and affection may not take the new induction very well. If you're familiar and caring towards the cat enough, you should first understand its prospective reaction. In case it does not want to share you even with your family members, it is a clear indication of a very possessive cat! The idea of adding a new cat might not go down well with it. So you may have to condition your cat by giving it cat like toys to play before you even bring the new cat!
Kittens are pretty inquisitive when it comes to seeing someone like them. With time, the new and the old one might gel so well that they will be collectively present everywhere - in that case, they can be even so busy with each other that they might even forget about their master! Cats can be as fickle minded as that! The main problem is that they are quite unpredictable animals!
Keeping Your New Cat
A good idea would be to keep the two cats separate, until they are comfortable in each other's presence. Never make the mistake of serving them in the same dish or even using the same dish to serve them individually - in this way, you might be only increasing the rift between the two cats! Your old cat will not take it lightly and will make a serious note of your 'insensitive action'.
Try not to show equal love for the new cat in front of your old member; reserve your cat love for afterwards or when the old cat is not present. The old member will feel vulnerable in front of the new cat and vice-versa.
Introduction has to be a slow but steady process. If they are kittens, they will take a maximum of 10 days to get accustomed to each other, in the gravest of situations. For older cats, some more relief time may be given until and unless, all seems well. Fights may prop up when you're feeding the cats - as mentioned earlier, never feed the cats together and if you do, make sure that you give them food in different plates and different bowls of milk to lap up. A friendly attitude towards both of them and appropriate conditioning and reinforcement training will help you induct more cats into your pet cat family!

Items for Cats

Have you passed by a pet accessories store and find that cat bed really cute? You simply find it adorable and comfortable for these pet's favourite hobby, which is sleeping. But then again you don't have a pet. Well, you can still buy pets' accessories even if you don't own a pet, some of your friends might be or maybe a family member. Buying stuff like this can be fun so here are some examples of pets' accessories that you can give to your friends or family members who own a pet.
1. Cat Cave Bed with Heart Design - pets love to sleep and his sleep would be more comfortable with this Cat Cave Bed with Heart Design not to mention this pet bed is truly fashionable. It has foldable top so it can be changed to sofa or bed and the pets will surely love it. It comes in color beige with cute hearts design. So now pet can be fashionable too even while sleeping. This is really a nice gift and for sure not only the pet will love but also the pet owner too.
2. Avila Kitten Cat Play Centre Scratcher Tree - this item is perfect for kittens that are just starting to develop their claws. Cats have the habit of scratching their claw and owners can't afford it if the pets will scratch just anywhere in the house so a cat scratch post is very appropriate to give as a present. This will help satisfy the pet's need to scratch their claws and at the same time will keep the furniture and carpet in the house safe. Avila Kitten Cat Play Centre Scratcher Tree has 1 foldable plate, 1 post and 2 scratching boards so it's perfect for friends who have two or more kittens in the house.
3. Catwalk Cat Bed Cairo Plush Mini Brown/Beige - with this cat bed, the cat will surely look like a king or queen. Catwalk Cat bed Cairo Plush has a very elegant structure perfect for any types of pet. This is actually large enough to accommodate more than 1 pet. It comes in color brown beige and has a soft plush cover making it ultra comfortable for pets.
4. Catwalk Scratcher Venice Cat Scratcher Post - this is an easy to assemble cat scratch post and features robust thread to let your pets do their thing. It is definitely better to have them scratch their claws in a pet scratch post like this rather than in your carpet or any furniture at home. This also features unique design that owners and pets will undoubtedly love. This is really perfect to give your best buds who love pets.
Choosing cats' accessories can be relaxing and fun. It's like choosing things for babies. So if you have friends who own pet do not hesitate to give something for their beloved pets. Or since you love these things so much maybe you want to take care of cats too? Well this could be a beginning of something that you will enjoy the most.

How to Deal With Cat Allergies

For a cat lover one of the worst things to happen is to develop an allergy to cats. Symptom include sneezing, runny nose and a headache and range from merely annoying to life threatening. Unfortunately, the bad news is for severe cases, the best remedy is often to part with your feline friend. The good news is that for mild allergy cases there are methods of minimizing the discomforts so you can continue living with your cat companion.
Allergies can show up in several parts of the body. The most common indication of an allergy is with the nose irritation such as itching and sneezing. With eyes, it's redness, puffiness and itching. There can also be issues with the throat, skin and ears.
The most critical of the cat allergies involve the lungs. Symptoms include coughing and wheezing and even shortness of breath. Sometimes these are more intense while doing certain activities such as grooming your cat or changing the litter box. In cases where you can't be sure it's the cat instead of another allergen, then testing is recommended, because the allergy may not be directly caused by the cat at all. Instead you may be reacting to the particular brand of kitty litter or something else.
Despite what's commonly believed, the material causing the allergy is not simply the cat hair. Instead it's a protein that's in the dander and saliva. These are microscopic particles that become airborne, are inhaled and cause the allergic reaction.
Cat allergies are also caused by an allergen called sebum, which is a protein that the glands near the base of the tail secrete to help with the condition of the skin and coat. When it dries, the sebum flakes off. The tiny particles can cling to almost anything and remain in the area long after the cat has gone. The sebum flakes can even be transferred to other locations that don't have cats simply by tagging along on clothing.
While researchers have found some cats to be less allergic than others, there is not practical way to know which they are in advance. One important indicator, though, is hormone levels. An unaltered male cat is generally sheds the much more allergen as compared to a female cat. Once neutered, the male sheds much less.
Unfortunately, the allergens may not be present in high enough levels in kittens to trigger a reaction. So a person may buy a kitten because they didn't have any symptoms of the allergy only to have it appear much later as the as the cat ages. It's when the cats skin becomes less supple that the sebum is secreted in greater quantities when then leads to the problem.
One of the most effective treatments for cat allergies is desensitization shots. This gradually increases a persons tolerance to the allergen up to 10 times their normal level. As mentioned previously, having the cat spayed or neutered can be helpful by decreasing the allergens. Other ways to reduce the allergens in your house include using a special, extra thick, HEPA filter in your vacuum; switching to hardwood flooring instead of carpeting; keeping your cat out of your bed; and using an air filtration system.

3 Proven Tips On How to Stop Your Cat From Peeing on Bed Sheets

Don't you just love getting into bed at night and laying down on a cold wet spot? Then, when you examine it more closely, you discover that it is cat pee! Now you have to change your bedding, and unless you don't mind the smell being around all night, you are going to have to do a load of laundry.
Having your cat peeing on the bed is not a fun thing, and a habit that must be broken immediately, or it may be one that lasts as long as you own your cat.
If you find your cat peeing on bed sheets a lot, you need to get to the bottom of just why this is going on.
First check out the litter box, and make sure that it is clean enough. This is something that most cats are pretty fussy about. After all, you like your toilet to be clean, and so does your cat. Okay, so you don't pee on the bed if the toilet isn't clean. But, you can either clean it yourself, or get someone else to do it.
Your cat can't tell you when her litter box is too dirty, and if she is peeing on the bed, it may be her way of saying "clean my litter box now".
If you are lucky, the problem of your cat peeing on the bed will just be a dirty litter box. But, if you start cleaning the box more often, and she is still peeing on the bed, then you may have a more serious problem on your hands.
The second thing is to get her checked out by a vet to make sure that she is healthy. Then, if there are no health problems, it is time to start ruling out other things that may be upsetting her.
Lastly, sometimes bringing a new kitten into the home will make your adult cat start to misbehave, and even pee on the bed. It will take a period of adjustment before your cat gets used to the new addition to the family, and until she is used to it, she may do bad things to get attention.
This happened to us just a couple of months ago when we took in an abandoned kitten. Our older male started peeing on bed sheets, and my clothes, until he figured out that he had a new "toy" to play with.

Wood Litter Cabinets Keep Cats and Owners Happy

Just because you love your cat doesn't mean you want to have to see, smell, and hear them using their litter boxes. While you might have thought about hiding litter boxes in the bathroom, basement, or laundry room, they're ultimately in the way (and not very pleasant to look at).
Wood litter cabinets to the rescue! They're perfect for hiding litter boxes (and the felines who use them). The enclosures available today are high-end and come in a variety of finishes (white, espresso, and walnut, for example). And since they look just like a nice piece of furniture, think of all the places they can be used:

• In the kitchen as a telephone or plant stand
• In the bedroom as a nightstand
• In the living room as an end table
• In the bathroom as an organizer
• In the family room as a coffee table
• In the utility room as a catch-all for keys and mail

Not only do these units conceal litter, but they also feature rods and towel hangers, shelves, and other options that make them great for storage or display.
When you're shopping for wood litter cabinets, you might want to look into getting more than one. Not only do they conceal litter, but they can also serve as a home for your pet. All you have to do is remove the litter box and place a small pet bed, pillow, cat mat/cushion, or blankets inside.
Some other benefits to wooden litter cabinets include a reduction in litter tracking and odor, and keeping kids and dogs away from the cat litter. These enclosures can also help with litter box training. (Kittens may not want to use a litter box that's located in a loud or congested area.)

4 Ways To Keep Your Cat From Clawing Furniture

A problem many cat owners face is that their very own cats act as furry vandals by putting their claws into places that hurt. Whether it is your priceless furniture or your legs, your pet's sharp claws can wreak havoc. Here are four ways to ease that problem:
1) Keep your cat outside and provide it with plenty of savoury scratching targets. If you let your cat indoors, it won't guarantee your cat won't stop scratching indoors, but at least it will keep encourage your cat to keep their claws somewhat in check.
2) Declaw your felines nails. It is possible for your vet to do surgery on your cat's paws and remove the cat's nails but you would be putting your cat through some discomfort and denying it from built-in behaviours it adores. For some households with small children or for health reasons, this may be an only option.
3) Provide dedicated scratching furniture. Buy a scratching post or scratch mat and encourage your cat to adopt it as its main scratching target. It amazes me how many house holds with cats do not have scratching posts. It saves your furniture and the cats love it. If you have trouble getting the cat to use the scratching post, buy some catnip and have it adorn the scratching post or attach a pet-safe toy.
4) Even with scratching posts and the like, your felines claws may remain mightily sharp and that can hurt if it puts its paws into your skin during play. You can however clip your pet's nails and trim off the sharp ends using a scissor' like tool specifically designed for cats. It is an excellent option that serves all parties involved. The only trouble is some cats might put up a fight before they let you cut their nails.

Is Your Cat Peeing Everywhere? Find Out Why, And Put An End To Your Problem

Cat lovers really love their cats. But, one thing that they don't love is when they have a cat peeing everywhere. When this starts happening, no matter how much you love your cat, it can be difficult not to get really angry and just want to give it away, or take it to a shelter so you don't have to deal with the problem any more.
Most people who have ever had cats have probably had the problem of at least one cat abandoning the litter box. In a lot of cases, the cat owner just learns to deal with, and clean the messes as they occur.
This is fine if you don't mind having a house that smells like cat pee. If your cat is peeing everywhere, and you do nothing to stop it besides clean up after it, the odor is eventually going to start sticking around, and it is none too pleasant.
When you have a cat peeing everywhere, it is not only the mess and the smell that you have to worry about.
For example, if you also have small children that are crawling around the floor, chances are that they are going to crawl right through a puddle of cat pee. Or, your cat may be peeing on your clothing or furniture, which can be really difficult to clean and get the smell out of (using fabric fresheners often helps quite a bit).
You need to find out why you have a cat that isn't using it's litter box.
Is there a medical problem that can easily be taken care of?
Are you keeping the litter box clean enough?
Has anything happened recently to cause your cat stress, such as moving or an addition to the family?
These are all things you need to look at in order to take care of the problem of a cat urinating everywhere other than its litter box.

Cat Eye Care - 4 Ways to Prevent an Eye Infection Within Your Kitty

The actual function which individuals discover the majority of regarding pet cats may be the eye. This therefore essential in order to examine all of them over a normal schedule. It is great to understand that will the majority of in the period attacks could be avoided. Under are usually several issues a person can perform reduce vision bacterial contamination within felines.
Keep an eye out with regard to mucous accumulation
Mucous may develop as well as become a good vision contamination. As soon as each day your own vehicles eyeballs ought to be lightly easily wiped having a moist fabric. This particular also needs to be achieved whenever you see mucous close to your eye balls.
Vision defense
At any time a chemical substance remedy is employed in your cat's skin color your eyes needs to be guarded. Among the most typical remedies consists of flea dips. Your own vet will certainly ought to be in a position to provide you with any overcoming cream that needs to be used for your felines eye balls just before remedy.
Cat Hair
Something which arrives in to deal in your pet's eye balls may trigger discomfort. This particular consists of their personal curly hair. Ensure a person maintain your pet's hair clipped to some sensible duration to prevent unneeded discomfort.
Common vision cleansing
Your own pet's eye balls ought to be cleaned out a minimum of each 7 days. A person may create your own personal eye washing remedy through combining one restrict of child hair shampoo along with twenty caps of drinking water. Make use of possibly a cotton swab or even Q-tip to use the perfect solution. The kitty won't appreciate this, however while in the long-term it is required.
Exactly what to accomplish just in case of the vision contamination
Vision bacterial infections occur. Occasionally there is absolutely nothing a person can perform. When this particular occurs to you personally, consider the kitty towards the veterinarian immediately. He will most likely recommend medicated vision falls that may provide in order to clean up the problem.

Cat Beds: How to Choose Your Cat's Favorite Place

There's a lovely poem by Eleanor Farjeon that starts.

'Cats sleep anywhere, any table, any chair. Top of piano, window-ledge, in the middle, on the edge'.

While this may be true of some felines, this may not always be convenient for their owners. There are times when you would like to have your favorite chair to yourself and not be covered in cat fur.
For this reason there is an enormous variety of different styles of feline bedding on the market. You can choose from cat blankets to heated feline beds, a cat hammock or luxury feline beds. With so many products to choose from, it is well worth thinking about some of the needs of your cat first.
Before you buy a feline bed consider the size of your cat, where your feline usually likes to sleep and do you need to keep your cat in a specific area, perhaps away from other animals such as dogs etc. You need to give your feline a bed that is his or hers own, where it feels safe, secure and warm.
The most important feature to consider in choosing your cat's favorite place is what your feline will consider comfortable. Cats like to be warm in winter and cool in summer. The cozy-factor of a cat bed is vital. A cat bed or basket that can retain body heat is ideal.
If you have a particularly cold house you might consider a heated cat bed. This may sound like the ultimate in luxury cat beds, but these are especially good for older felines. Some heated cat beds come with their own internal heaters, while others have a microwavable insert that can be warmed up and tucked under your pets bedding.
Cat blankets or mats are perhaps the most versatile and easy to use as they can be placed almost anywhere, including pet carriers. These can range from a very simple soft, plush piece of fabric to the more elaborate electrostatic ally charged to remove pet dander, hair or dust from your feline. Or a thermal cat mat which has a lightweight core which reflects the feline's own body heat back to the animal.
If your feline likes to be up high, beds on top of scratching posts offer a special place for your cat to sleep. These come with many accessories and toys and can be placed close to food bowls and cat flaps, very useful in small spaces.
Cat baskets are a favorite with many feline owners as they come in many styles and materials to fit in with your home. Soft fleece fabric cat baskets can be bought in low walled or deep dish shapes for felines that like to hide away. Some are more enclosed with a roof for security and warmth. Wicker baskets offer a more traditional style and also come in a variety of sizes. All of which will be very cozy for your cat.
Cat hammocks offer a comfortable place for your feline. These can be attached either to your radiator or be free standing. Cat hammocks mould to your cat's body, providing a sense of warmth, security and comfort. They are sturdy and lightweight and easily moved around the house. The ultimate cat hammock is a hammock enclosed in a box. The hammock is suspended in a sturdy cardboard box. This gives your feline an elevated spot off the ground. All things cats love.
The most desirable cat bed will be one that is washable, or at least have a washable cover or pad. This should be quick drying to avoid mould. It should be durable enough to last for some years. Importantly, it should be safe for your feline. Check that there are no strings or fabric that your pet could swallow, or sharp corners to injure itself on. Whichever style you choose it needs to become your cat's favorite place or she won't use it.