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After starting a business focused on healthy dog products Distinctive Dog (www.distinctivedog.com), a new world opened up regarding the state of dog nutrition and what manufacturers do not tell consumers.

There is much debate when it comes to dog food, treats and pet nutrition. In the wild, dogs inherently hunted and consumed animals and plants. Their digestive systems were designed to break down raw meat while the enzymes present in the meat aided the digestion process.

Today, most domesticated dogs eat processed kibble containing primarily grains and refined protein sources. Once the meat source is removed, the remaining ingredients are mostly unnatural for the pet. Wheat, barley, rice, corn and oats are all man-raised crops that a dog would never eat in the wild. So how have dogs adapted to a diet consisting mostly of grains and processed protein sources?

To begin with, dogs are highly allergy prone animals. Wheat, corn, soy and barley are common culprits of allergies in dogs. The most interesting factor here is that most of these substances are not contained in the dog’s natural food chain.

Corn is an inferior protein source and some experts contend that the dog’s liver must work overtime to extract useable protein, which in the process produces excess nitrates. These nitrates place extra strain on the liver and as some veterinarians will say, is one cause of premature aging.

Wheat, soy, barley and white rice have very little nutritional value and are used by manufacturers to squeeze more profit out of their products. As a fun experiment, place your dog’s dry food in water for about 10 minutes.  If it swells dramatically, it probably contains high amounts of these grains.

There are a variety of theories on the affects of processed dog food and dog treats on our pets. Veterinarian John B. Symes writes and speaks on the affects of gluten, casin from cow’s milk, corn and soy on otherwise healthy dogs. He is a “recovered” celiac and believes these substances are blocking nutrient absorption during the dog’s digestion process.

Many of these ingredients are used as filler in commercial dog food and when mixed with water, create a sticky substance. Symes points out that the dog’s digestive tract is not designed to break down these materials and the resulting partially-digested sticky material coats the intestines, blocking absorption of essential nutrients.

“Imagine that a German shepherd puppy begins eating a wheat, barley, corn, or soy-based diet from the moment it is weaned. If inadequate levels of calcium and vitamin C are absorbed, what are the chances that its hips, elbows, spine, and other cartilaginous structures are going to form properly? I would say "Not good". Most people familiar with dogs know that this breed has a reputation for horrible hip dysplasia. But, they also have serious allergies and other immune-related disorders. This, of course, is no coincidence. Once it is understood that the allergies form in the area of the gut that is being damaged or coated by the ‘glue’, it is easy to see why the trouble breeds like the German Shepherd, Cocker Spaniel, Shih Tzu, and others have their ‘genetic’ tendencies such as allergic skin and ear problems, orthopedic abnormalities, intervertebral disc ruptures, and cancers,” contends Symes.

Another way dog food and treat manufacturers cut costs is through the protein sources. Most dog foods contain protein sources labeled as “meal”, “digest” or “by-product”. These ingredients contain meat sources that are deemed unsuitable for human consumption. Rendering plants process dead animal and other matter for animal feed, and yes pet food. With virtually no government regulation, these often contaminated protein sources pass as our dog’s dinner.

One regulation on the books was written in the National Research Council’s 1974 publication, The Nutrient Requirement of Dogs. It states that all mammals (except humans) are legally allowable “meat” for rendering as long as they are not decayed. Some states have passed an additional standard excluding dying, dead, disabled, or diseased tissues.

Deborah Lynn Dadd in her book The Nontoxic Home and Office: Protecting Yourself and Your Family form Everyday Toxins and Hazards states, “Each year about 116,000 mammals and nearly 15 million birds are condemned before slaughter. After killing, another 325,000 carcasses are discarded and more than 5.5 million major parts are cut away because they are determined to be diseased. Shockingly, 140,000 tons of poultry is condemned annually, mainly from cancer. The diseased animals that cannot be sold are processed into animal feed.

Now, there is no way to substantiate the claims but I do know that there is no real way to truly know what these ingredients actually contain. In addition, the food is processed at extremely high temperatures during the rendering process which kills much of the nutritional value that may have been present.

When we begin to examine our dog’s diet, one only wonders why dogs are prone to allergies and health issues. William D. Cusick, author of Canine Nutrition & Choosing the Best Food for Your Dog states that nations with generations of dogs raised on commercial pet food have experienced canine longevity decreases up to 50 percent. In addition they have recorded increases in cancers, reproductive complications and other health issues. Hypothesized reasons include environmental pollution, pesticides, vaccinations, urbanization, fluoridated water and commercial pet food.

Cusick furthers his point by stating that in identical environments, humans have increased life expectancy while dogs have decreased. Moreover, in countries where commercial dog food is unavailable these decreases have not been documented. This point cannot be overstated. It points to the dire need for structured research to substantiate the empirical evidence and governmental regulation within the pet food industry.

Today there is no way to concretely determine the health consequences of commercial dog food and grain based diets. As a result of these concerns, many people choose to feed their dogs a Bones and Raw Food diet (BARF). These holistic diets provide a diet closest to what dogs eat in the wild. Our pet’s stomachs are designed to process raw meat and they receive live enzymes not present in cooked food.

Another option is home cooked meals. This can be a tricky option because some human food can be toxic for our pets. A good book on the subject is Home-Prepared Dog & Cat Diets: the Healthful Alternative by Dr. Donald Strombeck. Dog nutrition is different than human nutrition, so I recommend you check with your veterinarian before considering either a BARF or home-prepared diet.

At the very minimum, read and understand pet food labels and ingredients. Ingredient labels are listed in order of quantity. Locate products with minimal levels of wheat or wheat by-products, corn, soy or barley. These are fillers that can adversely affect your dog’s digestive system and if your dog is allergic, they can cause itchy and flakey skin, dull coat and hair loss. These grains should never be listed as the primary ingredient in your dog’s food. Also, understand protein sources and ensure that the protein sources you are providing your pet are high quality and not from rendered sources.

As a general rule of thumb, do not look for quality pet food at your local grocery store or pet store chain.  Specialty pet stores often have greater expertise and can help you find the right food for your pet. If you are looking for healthy dog treats, many companies including Distinctive Dog Bakery (www.distinctivedog.com), offer home baked dog treats free from wheat gluten, soy, corn and other harmful ingredients.

Lastly, consider supplementing your dog’s diet with enzymes and probiotics. Probiotics are friendly bacteria that help in digestion and the absorption of nutrients. They prevent harmful bacteria from growing and causing problems including gas, diarrhea and vomiting. Enzymes help complement probiotics during the digestion process. Adding an enzyme-probiotic mix to your dog’s diet can improve digestion, create better hair coats and increase immune function.

Many people feel that feral cats cannot be kept indoors as pets. This is not true. In fact, feral cats are happy being kept as indoor only pets if you don't attempt to treat them exactly like tame cats.

What are Feral Cats?

Feral cats are cats that haven't been properly socialized. What this means behaviorally is that feral cats are not tame toward humans. Very often, feral cats result from the offspring of cats that were once owned and then abandoned. As a result, the kittens are not properly socialized to humans and become feral.

There is a critical period during kitten development in which kittens must be exposed to human caretakers, otherwise they will be feral or at least semi-feral. This critical developmental period is generally from birth to 8 weeks old. If the first human exposure occurs past the age of 8 weeks this usually results in a feral or semi-feral cat. Sometimes older feral kittens can be tamed toward one or two human caretakers.

What to do if You Find a Feral Cat or Kitten

Many well meaning cat lovers will find feral kittens and take them to their local animal shelter. Unfortunately, feral kittens aren't very adoptable and most of the time animal shelters will destroy the feral kittens to make room for tame kittens that are more likely to be adopted.

Fortunately, there are some shelters that will spay or neuter the kittens and then return the kittens to their natural environment. This at least gives the feral cat a chance to live without the ability of producing more feral cats. This program is called Trap-Neuter-Return, and it is being implemented in many areas to control the outdoor cat population without having to kill the cats. It generally works like this: The kittens are caught in a humane trap, such as Havahart live animal traps. The animal is unharmed. Then the cat is taken to the vet or the shelter that participates in Trap-Neuter-Return and the animal is spayed or neutered and is usually given some vaccines. When the cat has recovered from the spay or neuter surgery the cat is returned outdoors in the same location where it was found. Trap-Neuter-Return is a much more humane way of dealing with feral cats and kittens than euthanasia.

Feral Kittens Can Also Make Very Rewarding Pets

Some people who find feral kittens take them into their homes as pets. This can be a very rewarding experience as you gain the trust of these special cats. It is also the best option for the well-being of the feral cat or kitten. Taking them into your home as a pet is even better than Trap-Neuter-Return programs. Taking them in as pets generally works best if you catch them when they are relatively young. The younger the better, although some people have taken older feral cats into their homes as pets and they have been fine.

It is also best to take in two feral kittens or cats from the same litter if possible. If this isn't possible it is best to have at least one other cat in the household because feral kittens and cats really enjoy the company of other cats.

Feral cats need to be kept as indoor only cats. Cats sometimes behave differently once they get outside. Because feral kittens and cats don't trust humans very much they may be fearful of approaching your house once they are outside and they may get lost. In general, they are very fearful of any humans other than the human caretakers that they have grown to trust.

I have four feral cats that have lived with me for about 2 years now and they have been very happy indoors. Three were caught when they were 10 weeks old and the fourth cat was caught when she was 12 weeks old.

For the first few weeks after I brought them in the house, all of the kittens used to hiss when I walked by them. Eventually they came to trust me and stopped hissing when they saw me. In fact, now they greet me at the door after work. When I wake up in the morning they come up on the bed to greet me the very first thing. They love playing with toys and with each other. They are still semi-feral, but there is nothing more rewarding than seeing how happy they are and knowing that they are indoors where it is warm and safe.

However, they aren't exactly like other cats. For the most part you can't pick them up. One of the kittens lets me pick her up and kiss her on top of her little head, but the other kittens don't allow it (Actually, they are no longer kittens, but they still seem like babies to me). However, they do like to play toys with me, and except for one of them, they do like to be petted and to have their fur brushed.

Feral cats and kittens would not make good pets for children. Basically feral cats that live indoors with humans like to do their own thing most of the time. They don't want to be held and will usually only let you pet them on a limited basis. Because of this they are likely to scratch a child that attempts to have more contact with them than the cat wants. The key to making a feral cat happy is to only have as much contact with the cat as it wants.

Also, you need to give the shy ones extra space when they are using the litter or eating. Sometimes it is best to keep their litter and food bowls in low human traffic areas so that they can feel safe while eating or using the litter box.

Vet trips can be difficult because they don't always allow you to pick them up to put them into the pet carrier. However, there are ways to do it. Sometimes you can throw their favorite toy into the carrier and they will run in to get it and then all you have to do is shut the cat carrier door.

Feral cats are well worth the extra work and they are the best pets ever! Also, because they only want limited contact with humans you generally don't have to worry about them walking on your keyboard while you are typing or laying across you newspaper or book while you are reading.

In my opinion there is nothing more rewarding then gaining the trust of these cats, especially if you don't mind taking their special needs into consideration. The reward comes in knowing that you are providing a loving, warm, happy home with plenty of food, water, toys, and veterinary care for these special cats.

For more information about feral cats and cat and kitten information please visit About Cats Online.com

Mary Mathews is pet owner who wants nothing more but the best of her cat's welfare. She found out a lot of things that would benefit every cat lover in the country. The 12 part audio program she came up adheres to taking care of your pets in a non-violent way and making sure that you have a great time together. Here is the Ultimate Cat Secrets.

Click Here For Mary Mathews Ultimate Cat Secrets Review Instant Access!

Ultimate Cat Secrets would initially take you to know what type of cat is best for you. Whether you need a female or a male companion and what type of breed you are attracted to. It also presents some steps you need to consider in keeping your cat safe around the home.

Cats  have a different way of taking care of themselves and how they communicate with other people and with themselves. Ultimate Cat Secrets reveals a more about cats' eating habits, preferences and allergies. It also explains the meaning of different cat gestures and purring. How your cat grooms himself and keeps clean is also mentioned in this audio series.

Training also is an option, but you do not need call in a professional trainer to do the work for you. With Ultimate Cat Secrets, you can easily teach your cat simple tricks and keep him well behaved most of the time. Teach your pet to undo different bad habits and replace them with new ones without having to hurt them in the process.

Your cat's well-being is also a major concern. Which is why Ultimate Cat secrets helps you through proper care and medication or therapy for your pet. It also introduces ways on how to avoid sickness by taking precautions around the house. This is indeed a great deal to invest in. I'm sure you would want to have the best for your beloved pet.

Wireless Dog Fence : Pets are just like humans, they have to be preserved healthy too. With the wireless dog fence, man's greatest ally will be risk-free even without the material fence. Not only are you preventing your pet held in in your grounds, you are also breeding them to follow instructions. As long as they already visualize simple commands such as sit and halt, the wireless dog fence will run for your pet. installing is cosy and can be done in bits. You can even bring it along with you when you, your house, and your pet would go camping or go on a holiday. You can use it open and even indoors.

Holding Back a Uncontrollable Dog
If your dog is an innate dodging artist, and you want to curb him in your backyard, then you should find him a wireless dog fence. The wireless dog fence will give your pet enough room and space to play and run or just dig for bones. While he proceeds to stray around, this new production also learns him to be keen. It learns your dog to respect boundaries. Naturally, it will take weeks earlier your pet will actually instructs, but with body and decent supervising, the civilizing will pay off. Flags are initially used, putting in them on selected limits. At this time, the stimulant level should be maintained at the minimal level. You may also start the disciplining by leashing him at first, constantly guiding him but leading him on his own to determine the edges. Once he gains the border line, a mild shock will be let loose from the sender to bring his attending telling him that he is leading his risk-free zone. As much as he gets a penalization for a error, your pet will also want to be praised when he retracts back after starting the crushed shock.

What Celebrates Them Willing
A wireless dog fence is the argue for the grins of many dog proprietors whose pets are forever on the loose. It is the popular ware in this extremely technical world of now. Disdain it being technologically grasp, it is also light on the budget. A wireless dog fence is the rightest alternative and root to the universally broken dog owner job. Without any wires to bury and poles to install, the wireless dog fence is reaching popularity from more dog proprietors. It is handy, man-portable, and can take an clear number of dogs as long as they all have the receiving system collar. The wireless dog fence requires clean setup saving you time, money, effort, and your dog, most specially. He can drift around where he's so-called to at a secure place.

You Should Be Happy also
The wireless dog fence and other pet accessaries are independent at Pet Depot Online. They have other pet intersections not just for your preferred dog but also for your other pets or cats among others. Pet Depot Online is committed to serve you and your pets needs by allowing the nicest and the finest pet intersections in the market.

Feline immune deficiency can be a serious problem, especially for pets that are not exposed to the outdoors on a regular basis.  For concerned owners, it is important to make sure your cat has regular veterinary checkups and that you are providing all the necessary nutrients which keep a cat’s body functioning properly.   Now there are natural solutions available which make that job much easier.

In order to maintain proper feline immune health, cats must get the daily requirement of vitamins and minerals, much like their human counterparts.  Most popular brands of cat food fall short when it comes to good nutrition and they are particularly insufficient for older cats and kittens.  For all cats, the use of a daily natural supplement can help to fill in the blanks left by packaged cat food.

Cats that do not go outside on a regular basis may not only be lacking in the amount of exercise they are getting, they can also suffer from not being exposed to plants and herbs which provide natural healing.  Cats in the wild will instinctively use certain plants to help them when they feel sick and these plants have been proven to aid in preventing feline immune deficiency.  Supplements made from these natural fighters can help house bound cats get the same advantages that wild cats do.

Other elements in every day life, including artificial colorings and preservatives in packaged cat food and exposure to household toxins and even prescription medicines can all have a detrimental effect on feline immune health.  For this reason, it is suggested that cat owners use natural daily supplements to provide the health boost so vital to their pets.

Used once a day, along with ensuring that your cat gets plenty of exercise and has continual access to a clean water source, natural supplements can provide the full range of support your cat needs to avoid feline immune deficiency.  Since the breakdown of the immune system can leave your cat open to any number of serious ailments, ensuring good immune system health is of utmost importance.

There are many different natural products on the market today, but the most effective products for feline immune deficiency contain a range of plant based ingredients to target all areas of your cat’s health.  Most important for feline immune health are herbs such as Milk Thistle, Echinacea and Huang Qi.  Huang Qi, which works as a whole body tonic, can boost the immune system, improve appetite and promote healthy circulation, giving your cat the best of all worlds.   

Milk Thistle stimulates bile production and repairs damage to the liver, making it extremely important to overall health as the liver has a domino effect on all of the other organs.  Echinacea focuses on the lymphatic system, staving off various forms of cancer and also working to prevent feline immune deficiency.   Supplements which contain ingredients like these will work with your cat’s body to heal from the inside out for lasting results.

We all want what’s best for our pets, so why not consider giving them the best that nature has to offer?   Consult with your vet today and find an all natural supplement which can help to boost the function of your cat’s immune system and leave you both breathing easier for years to come!

The Golden Retriever is one of the most versatile dog breeds known to man. Their intelligence and versatility sees them employed in a variety of roles including illegal drug detection, search and rescue, as hunting dog, as guide dog for the blind, as therapy dog, and as a service dog for the disabled. Its friendly, eager-to-please and patient demeanor has made it one of the most popular family dogs in the world. The Golden Retriever has an endless number of positive attributes when being considered as a family pet. They are also very competitive in agility and other performance events.

Golden Retriever puppy are known to be very playful and very friendly and making it the best choice for kids of all ages. While young children should always be supervised when playing with any dog, the Golden Retriever is remarkably accepting of children's sudden and often random movements or behaviors. Friendly with everyone, including other dogs, the Golden Retriever has very little, if any, guarding instincts. They are a fairly robust and healthy dog breed that can be expected to live for 10 to 14 years.

This is a large breed of dogs. Male Goldens are fairly large and stand 23 to 24 inches tall at shoulder height and weigh from 65 to 75 pounds. Females are smaller and stand 21.5 to 22.5 inches tall at shoulder height and weigh from 55 to 65 pounds. He has a double coat — the outer coat is water-repellent and the undercoat is dense and soft in texture. The coat varies from white-blond to reddish-blond and is usually shiny and soft. The double-coat sheds seasonally and needs regular brushing. Brushing will help him maintain a clean and healthy coat, avoid mats and help you keep a closer eye on his health and strengthen your emotional bond with him.

Golden Retrievers are particularly valued for their high level of sociability towards people, calmness, and willingness to learn. The Golden Retriever puppies are particularly easy to train. They are very sensitive to harsh treatment, so excessive strictness is not recommended. They learn very quickly and enjoy pleasing their masters, so obedience training can be fun. They can learn many tricks and will remember what they are taught for the rest of their lives. They have been known to suffer from separation anxiety and can become very lonely if left alone for extended periods of time.

They are not a dog that barks all the time, but do bark when startled making them poor guard dogs. Although they are more than likely to defend their loved ones in a life-threatening situation, they are not by nature suspicious of strangers or protective, which also makes them unsuited to any sort of guard work. They tend to bark as a form of greeting. They exude charm and confidence. They are sweet, eager to please, and devoted family companions. They need interaction and stimulation. The stimulation is good for your bonding, as well as incorporating the dog into your family. Golden Retriever can be the best addition into the family if you have the time to spend with this devoted companion.

Pets are just like human beings, they have to be held sound also. With the wireless dog fence, man's strongest friend will be safe even without the physical fence. Not only are you keeping your pet checked in your grounds, you are also civilizing them to follow directions. As long as they already visualize casual instructions such as sit around and remain, the wireless dog fence will function for your pet. installing is simple and can be done in minutes. You can even bring it along with you when you, your family, and your pet would go camping or go on a holiday. You can use it open airs and even inside.

Checking a Runaway Dog

If your dog is an intelligent escape artist, and you want to take him in your backyard, then you should get him a wireless dog fence. The wireless dog fence will give your pet enough room and place to play and run or just dig for bones. While he keeps to stray around, this new merchandise also learns him to be superb. It instructs your dog to regard bounds. Course, it will take weeks earlier your pet will actually learns, but with consistency and particular supervising, the developing will pay off. Flags are ab initio used, setting up them on selected bounds. At this time, the stimulation level should be kept at the nominal level. You may also start the disciplining by roping him at first, always running him but providing him on his own to determine the boundaries. Once he touches the border line, a gentle shock will be breathed from the vector to find his tending impressive him that he is providing his safe zone. As much as he gets a punishment for a actus reus, your pet will also require to be praised when he draws back after having the moderate shock.

What Prevents Them Happy

A wireless dog fence is the argue for the smiles of many dog possessors whose pets are incessantly on the loose. It is the favourite merchandise in this extremely technical world of today. Scorn it being technologically apprehend, it is also light on the budget. A wireless dog fence is the closest selection and resolution to the universally spread dog owner job. Without any wires to bury and poles to install, the wireless dog fence is getting popularity from more dog possessors. It is handy, movable, and can take an clear number of dogs as long as they all have the recipient collar. The wireless dog fence demands simple setup saving you time, money, effort, and your dog, most especially. He can stray around where he's imagined to at a secure place.

You Should Be Prepared as well

The wireless dog fence and other pet add-on are easy at Pet Depot Online. They have other pet productions not just for your favorite dog but also for your other pets or cats among others. Pet Depot Online is involved to serve you and your pets needs by catering the safest and the finest pet merchandises in the market.

Protecting our pets from roaming from our families and backyards is one of the umteen duties that we have to find as pet proprietors. As such, it is very strategic that we put up some standards in our houses to make sure that they will invariably be healthy. One of the affairs that we require to have to make secure that our pets halt within our prefaces is a wall. All The Same, if you don't want to mar the clean landscape of your grounds and your garden with a fence, then you might like to regard arranging up an undetectable fencing like the PetSafe radio fencing.

Recognizing More about unnoticeable Fences

The undetectable fencing like the PetSafe radio wall was originally implied for those who like to go in RVs with their pets. This kind of fencing enables households with pets to travel around because it is a take-away arrangement that they can have with them wheresoever they go. Although it was never entailed to become a replacement for the electric fences that are normally put up around families, the plug-and-play role of the undetectable fence has now made it one of the most noted items to have among possessors of pets.

These undetectable fences like the PetSafe radio fence works by communicating a mild fixed correction from the collar that is part of its system. Illustrious as the receiver of the fence system, this collar has two levels where the transmission will flow. Once your pet goes beyond the edges that you have set for your hidden fence, the fixed discipline will be imparted to get its aid. You are controlled though that this fixed will not hurt your pet. It will only call up his care so he will not wander too far from your place. You will also be notified if your pet is already near the borderlines you have set up because a warning tone will animadvert at once. This way, the wall will not only function at holding your pet at bay but will also let you know when he is about to gone.

The Healthiest camouflaged wall for Your Pet

If you really want to get the High-grade unnoticeable wall arrangement for your pet, then you should go for the PetSafe radio fence. Holding the regular arrangement for radio fences, the PetSafe radio fence can be easily put in as you would only require to bury the wires on the fencing area where you want your pet to check in. You will then just put on the recipient dog collar around your pet's neck so that he will start getting signs from the arrangement.

Because it descends with the flags and complementary wiring that you might require, you can put up the PetSafe radio fencing by up to ten acres around your home. Even So, if you want to help of a system that has diverse discipline levels, then you should make for sure to get the Deluxe Ultralight recipient alternatively of just the basic one. This is if you want to line up the levels of chastisement that you want your pet to receive from his dog collar once he goes beyond your bounds.

The Pet Depot On-line

To get your pick of the PetSafe radio fencing that you might want to purchase, visit Pet Depot On-line now. Here, you will not only find a great diversity of camouflaged fences but also be confident to see which will impart you hot value for your money.