Author Archive for Rebecca Foxton

The Sad Truth About Puppy Mills

by Rebecca Foxton

When you buy your puppy in a pet store, probably most of you don’t question where the cute little fluffball came from. You might assume that the pet store buys from breeders or maybe a local family had a surprise litter.

Pet store puppies are rarely bred by reputable breeders, they are sourced from puppy mills. Most people won’t have heard of a puppy mill. Soon, you will probably wish you hadn’t.

Puppy mills are canine intensive breeding plants, where literally thousands of puppies are bred to supply the pet industry. It’s a sad life for a puppy mill puppy, from the very start.

Poor health, temperament issues and hereditary diseases are often the legacy of being bred at a Puppy Mill. Socialization rarely occurs as the puppies are taken away from their mother early, thus depriving them of these skills.

Add to this negative early start poor feeding and possibly inadequate water, coupled with miserable living conditions with no room to move and little contact with humans, before being taken often incredibly long distances to the pet store, during which many die.

Usually when breeding dogs, breeders will study the blood line of each of the parents to check whether there is any risk of inherited diseases, so that they breed a healthy puppy. Medical and vaccination programs will also be adhered to, until the time they are released to a loving home.

A good breeder will have spacious, clean and humane premises, and should voluntarily be able to show you the bloodline of your puppy. A breeder ALWAYS gives a guarantee (although details may differ), tips on care, and would never make you return the puppy if dissatisfied, as they would have properly interviewed the family.

The situation is very different at a puppy mill, where the main aim is profit rather than animal welfare. Their goal is to produce as many puppies as possible to turn over the greatest margin. This means often poor breeding, where animal unscreened for hereditary diseases are used, or possibly even interbreeding which can lead to no end of health and temperament issues.

Breeding dogs are kept in miserable conditions, without proper attention to their diet, health or exercise regime, and forced to breed every time they are in season, physically exhausting the dog, and leading to weaker puppies. At the end of their breeding life, the dogs are often killed or abandoned.

There is legislation in place but puppy mills still exist. Consumers can help stamp out these intensive dog breeding plants buy only buying puppies from reputable breeders ( visit the premises, get recommendations), consider adopting ( this is the most humane way to stop the industry and to help rescue a dog who has been abandoned), refuse to buy from pet stores ( many of them do not know or mislead their customers as to the origin of the puppies).

Don’t buy a puppy mill puppy just to save him. You will just create the market for more puppies to be produced. The best thing to do if you see puppies being bred or kept in inappropriate conditions is to inform the appropriate animal protection authorities who will be able to take action.

Puppy mills are a sad fact of supply and demand, so don’t add to the problem by buying puppies of which you do not know the origin.

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Symptoms Of Ear Mites & Solutions For Dogs & Cats.

by Rebecca Foxton

Ear mite infections are a big problem for both cats and dogs. If you watch your cat or dog and notice some changes in behavior it could be that your pet has ear mite problems.

The following are sure signs that your pet is suffering from an ear mite infection; continual scratching around the ears, head shaking, restless behavior, some brown material present in the ears, a bad smell and your pet yelping if you touch the ears.

So what are the culprits to these unpleasant symptoms? The ear mite is a tiny parasite that lives in the lining of the ear canal.

The ear swells and becomes painful as they bite through the skin to get at the blood supply.

Yeast and bacterial infections are in store for your pet if you don’t take action against an ear mite problem.

In the worst case scenario, an untreated ear mite problem may result in loss of hearing.

Ear mites are like fleas - they will easily find another host if one is available.

Remember this if your pet is in contact with others, for example at playtime, in a kennel or if there are multiple pets in your family.

Treat all animals at the same time to ensure you don’t get repeated re-infections.

All cats and dogs can get an ear mite infection, but dogs with long floppy ears such as spaniels as more prone as they offer a greater number of hiding places for the mites.

Luckily there are treatments to help get rid and prevent ear mite infections. PNP Healthy Ears Ear Cleanser for Dogs is made from a range of mild and gentle components that softly rid the ear of dirt and wax and other discharge from the ear.

Ideal for post-swimming, and mild enough for regular use, this Cleanser comes with a special nozzle, making it clean and easy to use.

Alternatively try Lambert Kay Ear Rite Insecticidal Ear Wash.

Ideal for cleaning the outer surfaces of the ear, it makes your dog’s ears less hospitable for opportunistic infections. For dry ears, ClearQuest Ear Powder comes strongly recommended.

It is suitable for both dogs and cats and helps to control odor and keep ears dry and therefore more resistant to yeast infections.

ClearQuest also make Ear Wipes - a quick and convenient way to keep your cat or dog’s ears clean and healthy.

Made with anti-bacterial and anti-fungal ingredients, these wipes will stop any yeast or bacterial infection in its tracks. They are quick and simple to use, come in a tidy resealable container, so every time you get a perfect wipe.

Dr Golds Extra Gentle Ear Therapy for dogs and cats is another option to clean your pet’s ears quickly, cleanly and effectively.

Made with Tea tree oil and witch hazel, natural disinfectants and astringents, odor problems will be resolved and the ears will be kept clean and dry and safe from yeast infections.

A stronger alternative is Gimborn R-7M Ear Mite Treatment for Pets.

This is a good solution for mite problems as it contains an active but natural ingredient which kills mites. Because of its effective nature, breeders and show people swear by it.

When the going gets tough and your poor animal is beset by repeated ear mite problems, or has a particularly heavy case of ear mite infection, Zymox OTIC Solution with and without Hydrocortisone is called for.

Use once a day for seven days for acute symptoms and double the time for chronic infections.

As you see there are plenty of products available to keep your pet’s ears clean and mite free.

Keep your eyes open for the first signs of ear mites and deal with the infection before it becomes a problem.

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Denamarin Helps Keep Your Dog’s Liver Healthy.

by Rebecca Foxton

Without a functioning liver we would die, because of the many processes the liver does for the body.

This is the case of all animals, and death comes swiftly.

The liver is the largest internal organ in the human body and it plays a significant role in the metabolism.

Think of it as a kind of storage / disposal unit, as it stores glycogen and gets rid of toxins and red blood cells.

Hence you can see why the liver is essential for survival, and it needs to be healthy in order to function well and do the job it was meant to do.

This is the case in all vertebrates, including dogs and cats.

The liver possesses amazing regenerative powers, and can heal itself if a part is removed.

But it needs to be healthy to do this, if it is not in a good environment it may cease working, and death will quickly follow.

Chronic disease can also afflict the liver. But let’s talk about dogs in particular and how their livers can be affected. Don’t forget too that the liver can be affected by disease.

Dogs can suffer from a disease similar to cirrhosis, which is known as Chronic Active Hepatitis. It is not known what sparks this disease off but the effects on the liver can be devastating.

Because a disease is present, the body is provoked into releasing antibodies which clog up the liver.

When the liver tries to process toxins it cannot and this makes the problem worse, eventually leading to failure.

Doberman Pinschers, Cocker Spaniels and certain terriers are predisposed to this disease.

Other diseases which can affect the liver are cancer and hepatitis.

How can you help keep your dog’s liver healthy? Nutramax Denamarin with SAMe for dogs may be the answer as it is designed to help healthy liver functionality.

It contains S-Adenosylmethionine SAMe and silybin, the former of which increases levels of glutathione, a powerful antioxidant.

Glutathione is an antioxidant to be reckoned with, and SAMe helps nourish, renew and stop liver cells from dying.

The benefits are two-fold as a healthy liver will eradicate toxins from the body much more speedily.

You need to choose the correct dosage for the size of your dog, it comes prepared for small, medium and large dogs.

Produced in doses suitable for small, medium and large dogs, Denamarin is a small expense that could end up saving you thousands of dollars and your dog’s life.

Doesn’t prevention make more sense than a cure?

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Denamarin Can Help To Protect And Support A Dog’S Liver.

by Rebecca Foxton

Without a functioning liver we would die, because of the many processes the liver does for the body.

Without liver function all animals die; and quickly.

Of all the major organs in the body, the liver is physically the largest, and is instrumental in the body’s metabolism.

Of its many functions the ridding of toxins is one of the most important.

Clearly the liver is crucial to a healthy body, and its worth making extra effort to keep it healthy?

This goes for your pets too, of any vertebrate type.

The liver possesses amazing regenerative powers, and can heal itself if a part is removed.

But an unhealthy body can be even too much for the liver to do its incredible work, and the result scan be fatal.

Of course the liver is a target for disease in humans. Your pet can also contract diseases of the liver and other major organs. But let’s look at what could be in store for your pooch if his liver becomes unhealthy.

Firstly there’s Chronic Active Hepatitis Dogs, somewhat similar to cirrhosis of the liver but of course not caused by alcohol. The causes are often unclear, but the site is always the liver.

The disease causes the immune system to produce antibodies which affect the liver cells, causing blood flow to be restricted in the liver.

Add the build up of toxins that cannot be excreted and you will see very quickly how the liver could fail.

Specific breeds such as Doberman Pinschers, Cocker Spaniels and certain terriers often get this terrible disease.

Other serious illnesses that could affect the liver are cancer and hepatitis. Rest assured that most dogs will not suffer from these diseases, but there is a way to help prevent problems.

How can you help keep your dog’s liver healthy? Nutramax Denamarin with SAMe for dogs may be the answer as it is designed to help healthy liver functionality.

It contains S-Adenosylmethionine SAMe which stimulates glutathione production and silybin.

SAMe also prevents cell death in the liver and is thought to aid in the repair and regeneration of the liver.

The benefits are two-fold as a healthy liver will eradicate toxins from the body much more speedily.

You need to choose the correct dosage for the size of your dog, it comes prepared for small, medium and large dogs.

Produced in doses suitable for small, medium and large dogs, Denamarin is a small expense that could end up saving you thousands of dollars and your dog’s life.

Who can put a price on that?

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Give Your Dog’s Health A Boost With Denamarin.

by Rebecca Foxton

We don’t need to tell you the liver is one of the most important organs in the body and also one of the most extraordinary.

This is the case of all animals, and death comes swiftly.

The liver is the largest internal organ in the human body and it plays a significant role in the metabolism.

Think of it as a kind of storage / disposal unit, as it stores glycogen and gets rid of toxins and red blood cells.

Clearly the liver is crucial to a healthy body, and its worth making extra effort to keep it healthy?

The same goes for pets too, for that matter.

The liver possesses amazing regenerative powers, and can heal itself if a part is removed.

But only in a healthy body. In an unhealthy body the liver may well fail, leading to death.

Chronic disease can also afflict the liver. But let’s talk about dogs in particular and how their livers can be affected. Don’t forget too that the liver can be affected by disease.

Dogs can suffer from a disease similar to cirrhosis, which is known as Chronic Active Hepatitis. It is not known what sparks this disease off but the effects on the liver can be devastating.

What happens is that a flood of antibodies are produced by the body and these affect the liver cells, making them tough and fibrous and therefore making it harder for the blood to feed the liver.

When the liver tries to process toxins it cannot and this makes the problem worse, eventually leading to failure.

If you have Doberman Pinschers, Cocker Spaniels and certain terriers you should keep an eye open for signs of this illness as they are prone to it.

Of course cancers and hepatitis can also take control of the liver.

Nutramax Denamarin with SAMe for dogs has been specially formulated to stimulate healthy liver processes by encouraging the production of a powerful antioxidant, glutathione.

It contains S-Adenosylmethionine SAMe and silybin, the former of which increases levels of glutathione, a powerful antioxidant.

SAMe also prevents cell death in the liver and is thought to aid in the repair and regeneration of the liver.

Denamarin should be seen as part of a preventative health regime to protect the liver from illness and harm.

In this way the functioning of the liver will help the body get rid of toxins therefore reducing the chance of disease.

Produced in doses suitable for small, medium and large dogs, Denamarin is a small expense that could end up saving you thousands of dollars and your dog’s life.

Doesn’t it make sense?

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Choose Beefeaters Chew Sticks For True Puppy Love.

by Rebecca Foxton

Your Beefeaters Rawhide Chew Sticks will always stay fresh as they are packaged in a useful bag you can seal again and again, meaning fresher, tastier snacks for your dog and more economy for you.

It’s not just chews which Beefeaters make, high quality beefhide Twists are also available, which are just as delicious and a treat for your pet.

Don’t worry about your house getting messy, the chews won’t leave a nasty trail as they are made using a unique process which keeps the juices locked in, meaning they are not messy to handle and don’t stain.

The aroma and taste will set your dog salivating, and the texture will satify any chewing cravings he might have.

They come in value packs of 75 pieces and are available in Lamb and Rice, Natural and Chicken flavors.

Variety is the spice of life.

Dogs get sick of the same old food, just like people, so it’s wide to vary the snack flavor to keep him happy and interested.

Top quality ingredients, all natural recipes, and available in one pound bags for economy, Beefeater chews are a brilliant product for dog owners.

In toothsome flavors such as Beef, Chicken, and Natural, you might think your dog will be spoiled for choice; that is until you look at the Hickory Cuisine and Peanut Butter.

Another great reason to give chews to puppies is that it can help them through the tough time of teething, the benefits are tangible; one the little fella won’t suffer so much and the other is your furniture and furnishings get a break from his attentions.

Beefeaters products are not only great for your dog’s health in a general sense, but can also help certain health conditions, which is an added bonus and another reason to choose them.

Imagine being able to treat your dog whilst treating a health complaint. The two-fold benefits cannot be ignored.

For itchy coat and skin, look no further than Beefeaters Skin and Coat Rawhide Stix.

Fortified with Omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin E, they are ideal for targeting skin and hair, resulting in a healthy coat, and less irritation.

What would your dog choose if he could (and if he was being responsible about his health?)

Your dog will just love rawhide, he won’t be able to get enough and you will see you made the correct choice, especially as it’s all natural and healthy.

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Compare Healthy Treats For Crazy Goodness In A Dogs Life.

by Rebecca Foxton

Healthy dog treats are always a big hit with dogs, and it is absolutely essential that your dog have nutritious snacks.

Treats are also very effective during training to reinforce positive behaviors, and especially in maintaining high morale for long strenuous exercises.

Of course the question is what kind of treats should be given.

Just imagine what would happen if you gave your child chocolate every time he exhibited good behavior. Inadvertently, you will most likely wind up with a child that is overweight and unhealthy.

This also holds true for your dog. Dogs will eat whatever is available and tastes good, without a thought for their health and well-being, so you have to think for your pet and choose correctly on his behalf.

Fortunately, you don’t have to waste your time and money trying to come up with healthy treats for your dog when pet food creators have already done it for you. This way you can spend your spare time with your little pal.

For instance, Petravet Essential Vitamins Chicken Strips provide your dog with the protein it needs, as well as the important vitamins A and E.

Made from with over 8lbs of 100% chicken breast, this low fat snack may benefit dogs with skin conditions, and are packed with powerful disease fighting antioxidants.

All ingredients are high grade quality, and the Chicken Strips have the added benefit of removing plaque, leading to sweeter breath, healthier gums and stronger teeth.

It’s hard to find a more natural treat than Pig Ears. Your dog will go crazy for this simple, yet wonderful, healthy treat.

Beefeaters Pig Ears for dogs are slow roasted to produce a canine pleasing texture and gourmet taste. Your dog will be crazy about them!

Dog owners love how long they last versus the majority of dog treats available, allowing their pet to chew happily for hours.

These pig ears are shipped to you in a convenient and economical 25-count packages. They are slow roasted and dried which gives them a long shelf-life similar to that of beef jerky.

This process holds in the nutrients, giving your pet a gourmet treat that is also healthy.

They are delicious and dogs love them; as an added bonus, they contain little fat so they are extremely healthy dog treats.

Easily digestible, with zero preservatives, they also help in the removal of plaque through the chewing action, leading to healthier gums and teeth and hopefully fewer trips to the dentist.

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Choose Rawhide Chews For A Guaranteed Healthy & Balanced Snack.

by Rebecca Foxton

We have the essential info on why you should choose rawhide dog chews, as we believe they are a great choice for your pet.

When considering what kind of treat to give your dog, as an owner, what do you consider?

You may think about the health aspects of the snack, the quality of the ingredients, whether it is organic or not, and most of all whether your dog likes them!

A good owner will think carefully about what food to give his dog, and snacks must be considered in the same way, as everything your dog eats will affect his wellbeing.

A dog is not thinking of the health benefits, he is only concerned with how it smells and tastes, so it’s up to you to make that choice.

Proper food should make up the majority of his daily diet, and by that we mean a balanced healthy diet of dog suitable food with a meager 10% of his intake left for snacks.

Like human parents, pet parents sometimes like to spoil their beloved dogs, which can ultimately lead to a shortened lifespan.

Some health experts believe that a diet based on raw or largely unprocessed food is healthy, and this could be the case for your pet too, especially if one considers what they would have eaten in the wild.

Of all healthy snacks on the market, rawhide chews must come in the top five in the health stakes as they are a totally natural snack, without heavy processing.

When you consider what your dog might have eaten through the ages, rawhide would have been one of the foods of choice.

Luckily petfood manufacturers have made the business of getting the health benefits of rawhide into a convenient snack form.

Beefeaters is on of the biggest names in the industry and they make a fantastic range of products, including rawhide chews, without any nasty artificial additives.

Your dog will love the meaty taste, and better still, the satisfying “chewability” of these snacks will meet your dog’s innate instincts as well as reducing plaque build up.

When you look at giving these rawhide chews as a preventative measure for dental work, you will see you are really treating your dog properly.

Beefeaters Rawhide Chew Sticks come in four delicious, mouthwatering flavors; Beef, Chicken, Lamb and Rice and Peanut Butter.

They are easy to pick up in his mouth and long enough to provide hours of happy chewing, rawhide twists will have your dog in heaven.

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Rawhide Dog Chews Are A Brilliant Pet Treat Choice.

by Rebecca Foxton

When thinking over what treats to buy, you should consider rawhide dog chews for the following reasons.

When considering what kind of treat to give your dog, as an owner, what do you consider?

You may think about the health aspects of the snack, the quality of the ingredients, whether it is organic or not, and most of all whether your dog likes them!

As a pet parent you are responsible for what your dog eats.

We all know that dogs will eat almost anything and love lots of things which aren’t necessarily good for them, and even sometimes harmful, such as chocolate.

Pet nutritionists recommend that snacks only account for 10% of his daily nutritional intake, any more than this could upset the nutritional balance of his diet.

Did you know that you can actually reduce your dog’s life expectancy if you rely too heavily on snacks; just imagine that you may be cutting years off his life by giving the wrong kind of treats.

Just as some nutritionists are recommending a diet for humans which goes back to nature, the same theory could benefit your dog.

Rawhide chews are a wholesome treat for your dog, made of 100% natural ingredients.

Rawhide chews are a very good treat as they replicate the kinds of foods dogs would have eaten historically, when they would hunt an animal in packs.

Fortunately you don’t have to carve up rawhide by yourself, as pet food makers have done it for you, which thankfully is a clean, economical and easy solution.

Beefeaters have an extensive selection of fantastic rawhide chews, containing 100% natural ingredients, and no fillers, glues, preservatives, artificial flavors or colors.

Your dog will love the meaty taste, and better still, the satisfying “chewability” of these snacks will meet your dog’s innate instincts as well as reducing plaque build up.

When you look at giving these rawhide chews as a preventative measure for dental work, you will see you are really treating your dog properly.

Your dog will never get bored with four tasty flavors to choose from, succulent Beef, tasty Chicken, rich Lamb and Rice and yummy Peanut Butter.

They are easy to pick up in his mouth and long enough to provide hours of happy chewing, rawhide twists will have your dog in heaven.

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Compare Healthy Treats For Happy Rewards In A Dogs Life.

by Rebecca Foxton

Healthy dog treats are the winning ticket. Like humans, a treat for a pet is always welcome, but it should be nourishing.

Treats are also very effective during training to reinforce positive behaviors, and especially in maintaining high morale for long strenuous exercises.

Of course the question is what kind of treats should be given.

Just imagine what would happen if you gave your child chocolate every time he exhibited good behavior. Inadvertently, you will most likely wind up with a child that is overweight and unhealthy.

This is also true for your dog. We all know that dogs will eat whatever they want, without regard to their health, so as responsible pet owners, we have to make the decisions for them.

Fortunately, you don’t have to waste your time and money trying to come up with healthy treats for your dog when pet food creators have already done it for you. This way you can spend your spare time with your little pal.

Take for example Petravet Essential Vitamins Chicken Strips, a high protein snack fortified with vital vitamins such as A and E, essential for good health.

These low fat treats are made out of 100% chicken breast meat, contain antioxidants to help treat and prevent illness, and can help some dogs with skin problems.

All ingredients are high grade quality, and the Chicken Strips have the added benefit of removing plaque, leading to sweeter breath, healthier gums and stronger teeth.

How much more natural can you get than Pig Ears? This is basic food at its very best, and your dog will just love them.

Beefeaters Pig Ears for dogs are slow roasted to produce a canine pleasing texture and gourmet taste. Your dog will be crazy about them!

Dog owners love how long they last versus the majority of dog treats available, allowing their pet to chew happily for hours.

These pig ears are shipped to you in a convenient and economical 25-count packages. They are slow roasted and dried which gives them a long shelf-life similar to that of beef jerky.

This process holds in the nutrients, giving your pet a gourmet treat that is also healthy.

They taste great, dogs love them, and they are low in fat, meaning they are an immensely healthy dog treat.

Easily digestible, with zero preservatives, they also help in the removal of plaque through the chewing action, leading to healthier gums and teeth and hopefully fewer trips to the dentist.

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