5 Smart Ways to Prevent Illness in Pets

If you're looking for a way to prevent illness in pets, then you're smart and proactive. Many of the disease that pets suffer from that ultimately shorten their lives can be prevented by taking some simple steps, all of which will be explained in this article. So if you're a caring pet owner, read on.

Although it makes sense that one of the best ways to prevent illness in pets is to feed your pet proper food, many dog and cat lovers are unwittingly feeding their beloved pets a junk food diet. Next time, you feed your dog or cat, take a moment to read the ingredients on the label. What you don't want to see are names of chemicals that you can't pronounce, dyes, preservatives, fillers and cheap grains. These ingredients are as toxic to pets as they are to humans. Just to give you an example of how important good ingredients are, did you know that cheap grains in junk pet food can alter the pH of the bladder, setting the stage for urinary tract infections and bladder stones. Of course a junk food diet over the lifetime of a pet can lead to any number of diseases, including cancer.

This is why it's important to feed your pet organic kibble that is made with real meat, vegetables, whole grains and healthy oils. You can also make your pet a stew from meat or fish, broth and vegetables, but kibble is more convenient and pets really like it. Since even good food has been compromised by mineral-deficient soil and pollution, it is crucial to give your pet a daily supplement. Problem is not all supplements are created equal.

Look for a supplement that contains essential vitamins like C, A and E, along with important minerals like Selenium. This remedy should also contain herbs like Mistletoe and which are powerful antioxidants. Antioxidants fight free radicals which cause disease and premature aging and also clean out the liver, helping it to function properly. Detoxifying the liver is important because the liver breaks down fat (keeping your pet lean and healthy) and also filters out toxins. In addition to good food, adding a good quality supplement is the smartest and most effective way to prevent illness in pets.

The next step you need to take is to make sure your pet always has a big, clean bowl of water. Although this seems like common sense, a lot of pet owners neglect this step. There is an entire theory that many diseases are the result of chronic dehydration. Certainly dehydration plays a part in diseases of the bladder. Since tap water can be full of chemicals, make sure to use a tap filter.

The fourth step is to make sure that your pet gets regular exercise. So many pets spend their entires lives chained up in the backyard and this is where many health problems start. Like us, pets need regular exercise to clean out their lymph systems and relieve pent up physical stress.

The fifth step is to make sure your pet gets plenty of love and attention. Touch your pet, give massages once in a while and make sure your pet knows that he or she is loved. There have been plenty of studies that have linked strong immunity, health and longevity to touching, love and care.

Following these 5 simple, but practical steps will prevent illness in pets and ensure that your pet stays healthy and lives a long, happy life. Preventative pet care is one of the best ways to show your cat or dog how much you care.

Laura Ramirez is an avid researcher of products that help restore health and vitality to pets and people and keep their immune system strong and functioning properly. To learn more about her findings, go to http://www.pet-health-supplements.com.

Three Important Tips to Prevent Illness in Pets

What is the most important concern for you as a pet owner? It is, without a doubt, your pet's health, right? There are three steps you can take to help prevent future illness in your pet.

Diet

A healthy diet is the most basic requirement of your pet. Feeding your dog an AAFCO approved diet will provide the 40 essential dietary components recommended for dogs. There are two AAFCO classifications:

Lower Classification: "Formulated to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles"

Better Classification: "complete and balanced", nutritional adequacy was validated by animal feeding tests based on protocols from the AAFCO

Most branded foods that meet the "better" certification are fine for healthy dogs. Anything beyond this standard, such as organic or natural foods are more preference of the owner, vs. having a proven health benefit.

Natural health supplements

In addition to diet, many owners like to provide a natural remedy designed to support the immune system and the general physiology of the pet. While the clinical support for this type of approach is being researched in both human and pet health, many believe that they can provide some level of additional support. Given that the avoidance of disease is of course preferable to the actual disease, many owners believe it is a worthwhile investment, in the same way that a human multivitamin is not always something that is needed.

Any supplement you use should be FDA certified for quality.

Love and care

You love your pet. You know it, your family knows it, and your friends know it. How is your pet supposed to know it unless you show it explicitly? So, play with your pet, take it out for a walk, give it some toys to play with, get another pet as its companion, and do whatever you can to make your pet feel special.

This has two distinct advantages. One - when you play with your pet, it tends to stay physically active. Physical exercise, as you know, is very good for your pet's health. Two - when you spend some time with your pet, it feels loved. It understands that you love it more than anything else and it makes your pet feel happy. This avoids stress and improves your pet's mental and physical health. This is one of the simplest ways to prevent illness in pets.

It does not sound that hard, does it? It is very easy to remember - a healthy AAFCO approved diet, the possible use of a supportive natural supplement and lots of love and care. This is all your pet needs to live a long, healthy life. So, follow these three tips to prevent illness in pets. Be sure to check with your veterinarian before adding anything to your dog's diet so that your vet can provide a point of view and monitor any progress in your pet's health.

The author, Jeff Grill has written on many health topics and suggests this site for more information on how to prevent illness in pets with natural remedies. Other reliable sources of information on pets which are edited by the author include the Cat-Health-Guide.org and the Dog Health Handbook.

Feeding Your Pets - Feeding Them Table Food May Cause Serious Illness in Your Dog

While I was growing up we used to feed our dogs table food, or "table scraps", as it was referred to back then. We never had any problems with our dogs getting sick from eating our leftovers, but now it is considered to be a dangerous practice among animal lovers.

Most human food that is given to pets is too fatty for their digestive system. Dogs can become quite ill if given a diet rich in meat, potatoes, and other table food. They may get severe stomach aches, vomiting and diarrhea from these foods. This could also lead to inflammation of the pancreas, which is fatal. There is also a tendency for dogs to overeat if given human food. This might be because they prefer the taste of our food to theirs or else it is due to the fact that dogs will usually eat as much food as you give them.

Other table food that we may consider to be a treat could be potentially fatal. Foods such as chocolate, which dogs love, or garlic, can be toxic if your dog eats even a small amount. Bones from chicken and turkey can also splinter and end up puncturing your dog's intestines. At the very least these foods can make your dog sick with diarrhea or vomiting.

It is best to feed your dog a dry food that is recommended by your veterinarian. This will vary depending on the breed, age, and health of your dog. Canned food should be given in moderation. It is very rich and may cause diarrhea. Another alternative is preparing food for your animals that is made with lamb, turkey, or chicken combined with vegetables and whole grains. There are many resources for information on preparing these homemade meals. Dogs have different taste buds than humans so you may have to experiment with ingredients to find food that is both healthy and tasty for your pet.

The most important factor is making sure that your animal is getting the proper nutrition that will ensure a long, healthy life. With the recent incidences of pet food contamination you will want to take extra time in choosing safe foods for your pets.

Connie Ragen Green is an official dog lover. To find out more about small and toy dogs such as Yorkshire Terriers and Maltese visit [http://www.YorkieMalteseDogs.com] and to learn how to successfully train your small breed dog visit http://www.YorkshireTerriersAreTheBest.com