Live Well
The official Blog of Wellness Natural Pet Food

Every pet owner knows that vet care is a routine part of being a responsible pet parent, but not every pet parent knows what vet care should cost from basic preventative care and vaccinations to an unexpected diagnosis. This article gives an overview of what kinds of expenses to expect and what those expenses are so you’re better prepared before heading to the office. Keep in mind that it’s possible for vet costs to vary widely depending on where you live, for example. It’s also a good idea to talk with other trusted pet parents to get their experience of different veterinary care costs. Most pet parents cringe when it comes to the vet bill part of a vet visit; however, that is because most do not know what goes into the services their pet receives.  The reality is that—in addition to administrative and operating fees—there are many things vets have to charge for in their practice. These are: Professional services, which includes the physical exam, medical exam, extended exam, and hospitalized patient exam Diagnostic services, which includes blood pressure evaluation and more Diagnostic imaging services, which could range from ultrasounds to radiographs Lab work services, which includes collecting labs, running, and analyzing samples that test for blood chemistry, leukemia, heartworms, thyroid, immunity, and more Surgical procedures Anesthesia for procedures, which includes intubation and monitoring Hospitalization services, which includes overnight stays, inpatient monitoring, and more Veterinary fees are generally competitive

With so many different personality types among them, it can be difficult to read your cat’s mood and overall wellness; however, studies have shown that happy, healthy cats (regardless of personality) all exhibit similar physical and vocal cues to indicate that they are happy and healthy. Here are 10 signs of a healthy cat. A happy healthy cat will keep himself well-groomed. Not only that, but he might also feel inclined to groom other pets or even you. Some pet owners call licks from their cat “kisses”. They’re not wrong as your cat’s attempt to groom you is a show of trust in your bond. You can tell a lot about your cat by her tail. When a cat holds her tail high in the air, it’s a show of confidence, and when she twitches the tip of her tail, it means she’s happy with who is around her. When cats are on the defense, they arch their backs, and their ears flatten. Happy cats will indicate they are such by being relaxes in their movements and sleeping positions. They will tuck their paws under when watching the world go by, for example. While your cat’s eyes won’t be dilated 24/7, a sign of happiness is a sudden dilation of the eyes—most people think it means their cat is about to go wild, but it’s not. When cats are upset, they will fold their ears back against their heads. Happy

At the height of hurricane season, please remember that our pets rely on us to get them ready for the next big storm so it’s important to include your dog and cat in your preparedness plan. Here are my best tips on how to prepare your pets for the next inevitable hurricane. We all create a plan in case of an evacuation, but it is important to make sure that pets are allowed wherever you are headed. Many motels, hotels and shelters do not allow for pets. Be prepared and make sure your evacuation plan includes your pets. If your evacuation location does not allow for pets, choose designated caregivers that can care for your pets. Keep a list of friends, relatives, boarding facilities, animal shelters, or veterinarians who you know can care for your animals in an emergency. Be prepared with a list of phone numbers. Many times in emergencies, we need to separate pets. Be prepared to designate more than one place for your pets to go. Include your pets in evacuation drills so that they become accustom to traveling in their carriers comfortably. Have leashes, harnesses and/or carriers ready to transport pets safely and ensure that they cannot escape. Make sure to have enough supply of food, drinking water, bowls, and cat litter. Don’t forget a can opener if you pet eats canned food. Remember all medications and keep copies of medical records stored in a waterproof container. Make a hurricane first

Nothing is cuter than when your dog follows you from room to room, wanting to stay as close as possible. But what happens when this cute behavior turns into anxiety for your dog? For some dogs, the moment their pet parents head out the door, a cycle of separation anxiety starts. This can be distressing for your dog and lead to unwanted behaviors. However, if your dog is dealing with separation anxiety, don’t despair. Many dogs who deal with separation anxiety become well-adjusted and are happy to spend time alone. The key is to understand the signs of separation anxiety, the common causes, and how to treat this type of anxiety in your dog. If you are concerned your dog might have separation anxiety, it can help to first answer: What does separation anxiety look like in dogs? While not all dogs will act exactly the same, the following are a few potential symptoms of separation anxiety in your canine family member: Excessive barking or whining when you leave Destruction of property while you are away Having accidents in the house when otherwise housetrained Attempts to escape from the home or yard Panting or pacing when you are away It is important to note that many signs of separation anxiety in dogs can also be signs of other underlying health conditions. Always schedule a visit to your vet for a professional diagnosis and to rule out any other health concerns.

Ginger Cat Appreciation Day takes place in September, but any day to recognize these cute, adorable, yet often overlooked fur babies is a reason to celebrate! Most Americans remember such iconic ginger cat characters like Garfield with his funny, quirky, fun-loving attitude, and Hobbes of Calvin and Hobbes, who embodies playfulness and feline instincts. Ginger cat fans may know some of these already, but let’s take a look at these 5 Reasons Why Ginger Cats (also known as Orange Tabby Cats) are So Special: Just like humans, there are different shades of ginger between cats. They can have an orange, red, or yellow-colored fur.  Pheomelamine is the pigment responsible for the ginger color in cats. The amount of this pigment reflects how intense the ginger color of the cat is. Ginger cats are more likely to be male than female. *This is because the “ginger gene” which produces the orange color is on the X chromosome. Females have two X chromosomes and so need two copies of this gene to become ginger, whereas males need only one. This means there are roughly three males to one female ginger cat. Ginger tom cats father tortoiseshell or ginger females. If both parents are ginger, then they will have all ginger kittens as well. Although early socialization plays the biggest role in an adult cat’s personality, there is some anecdotal evidence that says cats’ personalities vary between different colors. Male Ginger cats have

If you’ve read our post on How to Honor Your Cat’s Inner Lion (or have ever met a cat!), then you know that cats instinctively crave raw animal protein. And for good reason. Since cats are obligate carnivores, they need high-protein diets in order to thrive. Have you ever wondered what it might be like to incorporate raw into your cat’s diet? Nutritionally, raw protein provides cats with vitamins and minerals that are not available in cooked diets unless they are supplemented. But there are some challenges associated with adding raw protein into your cat’s diet. For example, there can be food safety concerns around handling and serving raw food, not to mention that serving raw is a messy task that many cat parents aren’t comfortable with. In order to get the benefits of raw protein in a diet, there are newer products popping up that combine traditional kibble for cats with freeze-dried raw ingredients. However, these products aren’t are all the same. Most cat foods that incorporate freeze-dried raw meat mix the raw meat with other fillers or ingredients for cost savings. This could mean that while your cat is getting a boost of nutrition from the raw meat, they’re getting a boost of unnecessary carbohydrates, fillers and calories, too. Instead of combining raw protein with other ingredients, Wellness’ new CORE RawRev for cats combines high-protein, grain-free kibble with lean cuts of freeze-dried raw turkey—and nothing else. If based on the above, you’re drawing the conclusion that

Take Your Cat to the Vet Day is only recognized one day a year in August, but routine wellness visits and checkups with your veterinarian are imperative for detecting disease early and ensuring your cat is healthy. Unfortunately, cat parents do not bring in their pets for veterinarian checkups nearly as often as dog parents do for a variety of reasons, including stress on the cat, the independent personality of cats and the assumption that they are healthy. Cats rarely show obvious signs of sickness, making detecting illness in cats extremely challenging. Often times, people do not realize their beloved cat is sick or something is wrong until they are at the end stage of a disease and treatment options are limited. So, today I would like to discuss why pet parents are reluctant to bring their cat to the vet, helpful tips for bringing your cat to the vet and most importantly, why routine wellness visits and checkups are so important. Pets cannot always show us when they are not feeling well, especially if they are feeling mild ailments. In addition, cats hide sickness and pain as a survival tactic, as they do not want to show signs of weakness. Far too often, cat owners will bring their cat into the veterinarian hospital for an evaluation when they are noticing that something is “off” or their cat is not acting like themselves. Many times, when a cat is acting

When a service dog ran up to a woman on a busy street, she tried to shoo the dog away. Meanwhile, the dog’s owner was seemingly in distress. Thankfully, the dog owner wasn’t having a seizure or another life-threatening medical emergency; had he been, he may have died. August 5-11 is International Assistance Dog Week and is a perfect time to learn what assistance dogs do and what you should do when you encounter them. Service dogs are highly-trained canines taught to perform specific tasks for their owners to help their owners safely function on a daily basis. Their ability to perform their tasks can often mean the difference between life or death for their owners. Specifically, service dogs will: Answer the door for their owner using a lever Retrieve things for their owner Bark to communicate with their owner or others Assist their owner with mobility Carries supplies for his owner in his backpack Brings the phone to the owner to call for emergency help Can bark at a speaker phone to signal there’s an emergency Finds help when his owner is in distress Calms his owner during a psychiatric episode Alerts his owner if there is a fire or other disaster Assists owners with psychiatric disorders by spotting unwelcome stimuli Helping owners with psychiatric disorders keep from self-harming Thus, when one sees a service dog with or without his owner, there are important behaviors and responses to observe

Nothing freshens your indoor environment like natural greenery. Many such plants are even known detoxifiers, but some plants (even the detoxifiers) are poisonous to cats and dogs; however, you can safely spruce up your interior with any one of these 10 pet-safe indoor plants. Palms that perform well indoors (such as bamboo palms, areca palms, or dwarf date palms) add style and texture to your home. Not only that, but these palms also boost oxygen levels while removing various common toxins from your home’s air. Like palms, spider plants add texture to any environment. Long—often variegated—leaves protrude from the plant’s center. Spider plants can hang in a pot or sit. Their sizes vary; the fact that they purify the surrounding air is an added benefit. Unless you’ve got an atrium or a courtyard, it’s probably best to go for the small, potted bamboo plants; however, bamboo not only creates an exotic aesthetic while serving as a detoxifier, it is also safe for cats and dogs. A homier plant that’s easy to keep alive and that looks great hanging from the ceiling is the Boston Fern. While ferns look lovely in any environment, keep in mind that not all ferns are pet-friendly. Bromeliads are a striking, colorful, tropical plant characterized by large, long green leaves and a brightly colored flower reminiscent of a pineapple. Another popular, colorful pet safe plant is the Lipstick Plant (Aeschynanth). The plant is characterized by vibrant,

It is amazing how quickly the Fourth of July has come around. Next week people around the country will be celebrating the birth of our freedom with BBQs, parties, celebrations and fireworks. Although this is a very exciting holiday and time for us, it can be a very dangerous and scary time for our pets. As a small animal veterinarian, this is one of the busiest times of year for seeing pet emergencies at the animal hospital. So, today I would like to give you my top tips on keeping your pets safe during the Fourth of July holiday. Let’s get started! Many pets are terrified of the loud sounds of fireworks. They can show mild signs of anxiety like hiding, and more severe signs like destruction, shaking and harming themselves. If your pet has a fear of fireworks make sure to be prepared. If possible, bring them to a place where the fireworks cannot be heard. I recommend not taking them with you to the fireworks display, even if your pet is not fearful of loud sounds. In areas with many people and loud sounds, your pets may become frightened and show unpredictable behaviors. Leaving your pet in the comfort of their home is always a safer bet. The Fourth of July is a big holiday for BBQs, but these cookouts can be harmful to our pets. I see a lot of upset stomachs during this time of year because

Note: Rotational feeding is not recommended for dogs with food allergies or sensitivities. Some animals with food allergies can be predisposed to developing further allergies. There are many ways to add variety to your pet’s mealtimes. Rotational feeding for dogs can add variety through flavor (ex. chicken, lamb, salmon or pork), texture (ex. kibble, wet food, freeze-dried, air-dried) and nutrients (ex. Amino acids, minerals, fatty acids). For some pet parents, adding variety means mixing kibble and wet food together in the bowl, while for other pet parents it might mean feeding kibble for breakfast and wet food for dinner. Others may choose to only feed dry kibble, but rotate flavors with each new bag that they purchase. Any of these combinations is acceptable – they all add variety! Don’t let your pet become food bored. Rotational feeding can help maintain and increase your pets interest in eating. Also, while a complete and balanced dog food guarantees that your dog will get sufficient nutrients; rotating foods allows your dog to consume ingredients that could be richer in certain vitamins, minerals and amino acids than others, contributing to an overall increase in health and wellbeing. When starting a rotational feeding program, pet parents should look for recipes that have similar fat content, fiber content, and ingredients to minimize risks of indigestion.  When rotating from one product to another, be sure to follow the feeding guidelines for each product to ensure your pet is getting their daily

In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare wrote that “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” which is true…while names don’t shape the person, there are some names that fit the personality. For example, Romeo and Barbarella don’t have the same ring. When it comes to naming people and pets, finding the right name to fit the individual character is truly an art. Here are some things to consider when naming your pet. Getting a new cat or dog is very exciting, but before you dive right into selecting a name, keep these important tips in mind: Select a one or two-syllable name; anything longer will be hard for your pet to recognize. Don’t pick a name that sounds like a command. For example, Kit sounds like sit or Jay sounds like stay. Only consider names that you’ll feel comfortable calling out when your pet is outside or at the park. Next, there’s the inspiration for finding names. Some pet parents look at baby name books for ideas. You can do that as well as: Watching your pet’s personality for a while to see what name fits. It’s okay if your pet doesn’t have a name for a few days. It’s worth the wait to get the right one. See what pets are named on movies and books. This could help you decide what to or what not to name your pet. Consider the popularity of the name Marley