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Automatic litter boxes are a wonderful convenience for cat owners with busy schedules. They don’t require daily scooping or a lot of general maintenance which allows us to enjoy more free time with our pets. Many brands, like Littermaid only require that you empty the bottom receptacle a couple times a week, while others like the Cat Genie only need you to keep an eye out for clogs and replace the sani-solution every once in awhile. Of course you would need to do both more frequently in multiple cat households.

My favorite thing about robotic litter boxes is that they allow you to mark cleaning the litter box off of your daily chore list. You also don’t have to worry about buying special cat box liners. And best of all there is no more need to scoop the poop because automatic litter boxes mechanically clean up the waste each time your cat uses the bathroom.

This type of litter box has been around for awhile so you have many models to choose from. Some even come with a cover which provides a more pleasing appearance while allowing your cat to have maximum privacy. But most important, a cover will keep litter particles from being scattered about when your pet jumps in and out of the litter box. Its also important to note that most brands require the use of a premium scoop-able cat litter. Premium litters often have better absorbency for trapping urine which will keep the automatic litter box from jamming. Generally a better quality litter will control odor more effectively than any of the cheaper brands you might find.

Prices for these type of litter boxes can range anywhere from one hundred to three hundred dollars. But if you are tired of raking, scooping and bagging cat litter, investing in an automatic litter box can be worth every penny. They are convenient, clean and most of the popular brands on the market today will adequately sense movement to rake away your cat’s waste in a matter of minutes.

Overall, an automatic litter box is a great investment for the dedicated cat owner. They reduce the amount of litter used on a day to day basis and at most you will only need to keep an eye on when its time to empty the receptacle bin. They keep the house consistently odor free and allow us to enjoy our cats without the constant stress litter box cleaning. Chances are you will feel that it was worth the investment and your cat will thank you.

Want to learn more about automatic litter boxes? Visit http://www.healthycatcare.com/index.php/automatic-litter-boxes for more tips and info!

Senior Pet Tips: Simple Things You Can Do To Make Your Senior Pets More Comfortable

As our beloved companions get older they begin to slow down and many suffer from the same age-related wear and tear as we humans do. Arthritis, gastric upsets, diminished senses, sensitivity to extreme heat and cold are just a few. Below is a list of tips you can use to make your senior pet more comfortable, happy and healthy.

Feed the best diet

Feeding your pet high quality food not only makes them feel better, but can reduce the chances of illness and disease in the future. Raw food, home-cooked meals or premium commercial food will go a long way in keeping your pet happy and healthy. And don’t forget to add variety to your pets diet. By rotating what you feed you are insuring that your pet gets a more balanced array of vitamins and minerals. Not to mention, how would you like to eat the same thing day after day year after year. Be careful, however to introduce dietary changes gradually to avoid tummy upset and diarrhea. Begin by adding in 1/4 of the new food to what you currently feed for between 5 to 7 days. The second week feed 1/2 new food to 1/2 the current diet and so on until you have made a complete change. Once your pet gets used to more variety they will more easily tolerated dietary changes.

Consider adding supplements

Adding natural vitamins and supplements can also be of great benefit to our pets, especially seniors. My personal “Holy Trinity” is a good Mulit-Vitamin, EFA’s (essential fatty acids) and a Plant Enzyme and Probiotic Supplement (such as Animal Essentials). A good multi-vitamin will ensure your pet receives adequate daily amounts of necessary vitamins and minerals. EFA’s do more than keep skin and coat healthy. EFAs are the building blocks for prostaglandins, which work to regulate hormones, immune and nervous systems and cardiovascular function. People and pet’s bodies cannot make them and so they need to be added to our diet. Enzymes and Probiotics help enhance your pet’s health by promoting the proper balance of good intestinal flora and by supporting the digestive systems that aid in the assimilation and utilization of vitamins and nutrients. Enzymes combine with food and water to aid in the breakdown of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.

Even if your dog or cat is not displaying signs of arthritis you can help prevent or slow the onset by starting them on a natural supplement designed to promote joint and cartilage health. Look for supplements that contain ingredients such as glucosamine, chrondroitin, MSM, vitamin C, white willow bark (not for cats), boswellin, yucca powder, manganese ascorbate, bromelain, selenium (especially in conjunction with vitamin E), vitamins C, A, and E. In addition, Omega 3 fatty acids from fish oils has shown promise in treating arthritis in animals and humans.

Buy an orthopedic pet bed

Beds made out of convoluted foam offer greater support for sore achy joints and muscles. Soft fluffy beds may look and feel appealing to us, but as anyone with back problems will tell you, a nice firm bed is much more comfortable. The same is true with our pets.

Raise your pet’s food and water bowls

Raise your pet’s food and water bowls to provide the height that your dog (or cat) needs for healthy eating and drinking. Raised feeders minimize neck strain and reduce air ingestion making them ideal for senior and large breed pets.

Be aware of diminishing sight and hearing

Don’t drastically rearrange rooms and furniture as your pet has probably learned to navigate his/her environment quite well and sudden changes can lead to fear and confusion. When approaching your older pet make sure they can see or hear you coming. A pet with sight or hearing loss can become very startled by an unexpected touch. Clapping your hands or making some other loud noise can help alert pets of your approach. The vibrations created by walking heavy-footed also work well to alert pets that someone is coming.

Just like people, our pets become more sensitive to extreme heat and cold

Provide pets with a warm place to lie and sleep in the winter, away from drafty windows and doors. Consider buying a heated bed or insert to keep them cozy. In the summer, make sure outdoor areas have plenty of shade and cool fresh water available at all times. Indoors, make sure they have a cool spot away from direct sunlight.

Ramps and special harnesses can make life for seniors much easier and less painful

They can help them climb stairs, get in and out of vehicles, rise from lying down and provide extra support while standing or walking. Cats can greatly benefit from portable stairs that aid them up and down from the bed, couch or other favorite cuddle spot.

Don’t forget about exercise

Your older pet still needs to get out there and be part of the world; drinking in the fresh air and soaking up some sunshine. It’s just as important for them to keep moving as it is for us when we age. Be aware, however that you need to adjust the length and strenuousness of their exercise. Shorter distances and less challenging terrain may be needed. And, definitely be careful in any extreme weather, as older animals cannot tolerate extremes like when they were younger. Also, make sure you always have an ample supply of clean water for you and your pet.

Christine Mandrake is the owner of WellBeings.com, a site that is dedicated to providing information and resources about caring for senior pets.

http://www.wellbeings.com

From the moment you first take ownership of your new puppy or kitten right up until it is time to say goodbye to them, it is important to be proactive with your cat or dog’s health. You need to be vigilant and on the lookout for any warning signs that might indicate health problems.

This doesn’t mean to say that you have to take them to the vet every time they cough. What is does mean is that it is down to you to take responsibility for your dog or cat’s health. You need to learn about some common health complaints that can cause problems for your pet. You need to know about the symptoms and you need to know about how you can treat these problems if and when they do occur.

You need to be prepared in case of a major emergency that requires veterinary treatment, but you also need to be prepared in case of a minor emergency that you can deal with at home. Problems like diarrhea and constipation, ringworm and ear mites can all be treated at home if you can spot the problems and have the products at hand to treat them.

Equally importantly, you need to be proactive about prevention. If you strive to keep your dog or cat healthy and active all year round then they are much more likely to stay free from these minor health complaints that many pets suffer from. If you make sure that they are fed on a quality diet that is high in raw and unprocessed ingredients and if/when they do eat manufactured food, it is of a premium quality. They get exercise daily and drink lots of water.

There are also preventative measure that you can take in other areas. Are they groomed often and checked for fleas and ticks. Do you use a number of natural flea prevention techniques? Do you wash their bedding, bowls and toys periodically? Do you shampoo and bathe your dog (but not too often)? Do you clean their outer ears regularly?

If you are doing all these things, then you are much less likely to have a sick cat or dog. Healthy and happy animals will fight off more minor diseases and infections.

Your cats and dogs place their trust in you to look out for their health needs. There are certain things that they can’t do for themselves. So it is your responsibility to be proactive with your pet’s health.

The phrase, “putting on the dog” refers to people who try to appear wealthy or more important than they really are. If you were to walk down the dog food aisle in a supermarket or pet store, the front of the bags would sound very impressive, assuring you of complete nutrition for every stage of a canine’s life. But in reality, many of these pet food companies are guilty of “putting on the dog”. Before you put anything “in” your dog, flip those bags of dog food over to read the fine print.

Do you want your dog to be healthy, obedient and live to a good old age? Scientists determined that dogs have the potential to live to 20 years, but in reality, most canine companions struggle beyond the 10-year mark. Veterinarians are seeing an increasing number of heart and respiratory disease, joint problems and diabetes. The shelters are full of dogs that left their “forever homes” because they exhibited hostile and even violent behavior.

All of these health and emotional issues could have a solid basis in the type and quality of food these dogs have been given. It’s not enough to merely fill up a bowl with any dog food so your pet doesn’t go hungry. Dog owners need to evaluate what’s going into the dog’s dish because those ingredients can mean a better life or one that is filled with health issues.

Buy a premium dog food. Generally, this type of food is not sold in supermarkets and not even at your veterinarian’s office. There are a few exceptions where you will find top quality foods at these establishments.

Before making a selection of dog food, turn the bags over and read the list of ingredients. The first 5 ingredients make up the bulk of the dog food so take note. If more than 2 of them contain grain products, like corn or wheat, the food is mostly vegetable protein, which provides less in the way of nutrition. Dogs who eat this type of food will have more bowel movements because their bodies are not absorbing a high level of nutrients and these ingredients are processed as waste.

If the bag lists “by-products” it’s best to leave it on the shelf. By-products of animals can mean the head, feet and intestines. There is practically zero nutritional value in this ingredient. Look for chicken “meal” or lamb “meal” which actually provides a greater degree of animal protein.

Avoid foods that contain preservatives, like BHT or BHA. They can be harmful to your pet’s health. Canned food often contains more preservatives because they are needed to keep the food fresh. Additionally, canned food has a high water content and that should be factored into your dog food buying decision. Dogs do very well on dry dog food alone, and the crunching action helps to keep their teeth cleaner.

If you want to give your dogs treats, the same rules apply. Check the list of ingredients. Try not to get your dog “hooked” on cheap treats with no nutritional value because that may make it difficult to offer a premium dog food that is not artificially enhanced with flavor additives.

Dog breeding is not as simple as you think. Countless sensible pet owners favor to get purebred dogs nowadays. Even on a similar multiplies, breeding lines are inclined to create numerous traits and types of dogs. As you can watch, dog breeding is a complex undertaking and without enough knowledge, you can’t be an impressive dog breeder.

Dog breeding is continuously grueling for beginners, particularly when you consider the amount of time, money, and effort you need to invest. Don’t make the mistake of rushing in before you know your subject. The major to achievement is research followed by even more research. Once you’re equipped with all the theoretical knowledge you should consult an expert breeder. Visit his premises and take note of the manner he does things. You will gain helpful insight into the specific dog breeding experience.

Some dogs may be bred for performance, and will regularly take part in events such as flyball. Dogs some for breeding frequently display fine athletic abilities. Structure and physical appearance are not so important in dogs bred for best performance. Dogs from many breeds are allowed to mate if they are agile and athletic. In that situation the breeders can only hope the pups will display the same qualities as their parents. One exceedingly suitable example is the breeding of a Jack Russell with a Border Collie. This produces a pup which in the sports community is known as a BorderJack.

Once you have your perfect female you will call for to look for a good stud. Certain studs are offered for sale while others are accessed via payment of a fee. The most popular and reputable breeds are expensive, but if you decide attractive puppies you require to look for an experienced stud. Don’t be persuaded to use a friend’s stud; you call for to look for the best. Visit the kennel club in your local area. Ask to see the dog’s certification; and following clear arrangements you can arrange to bring your female to meet the stud. This arrangement means the stud owner can help with the mating process. First time females can be hard so you need all the expert help you can get.

Be sure that you don’t underestimate these items when you calculate the cost being a professional dog breeder. Also, project to work with a veterinarian in caring for them, and see if a monthly payment policy can be implemented when that becomes necessary. Keep in mind to include advertising, the cost of building, outfitting, and electrifying a kennel, liability and property insurance premiums, zoning approval, property taxes, and maintenance.

You know your dog better than anyone else; and you should know if it’s an great example of its breed. If you are aware of any disqualifying faults in your dog you should not be allowing it to breed. If on the other hand your dog has a few minor faults these can be counteracted by finding a suitable partner. However, the situation is a variety of if you have a dog that is simply mediocre. Constantly check the standards required in each breed. If in doubt ask an expert to evaluate your dog properly.

Just remember, you need to become skilled at as much as you can about dog breeding. With the knowledge and advice you gain from speaking to expert breeders you will be well on your manner to success.

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