Basic Pet Nutrition Guide

If you're like me, you love your pets and want them to be healthy and happy. One of the best ways to do that is to feed them a well-balanced diet that has all the essential nutrients they need. In this article, I'll share with you some tips on how to feed your small and large dogs with healthy food that will keep them in tip-top shape.Essential Nutrients

Essential nutrients are the ones that your pets can't make on their own and need to get from their food. These include protein, essential amino acids, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. Protein helps your pets build and repair their muscles and tissues. Essential amino acids help your pets maintain their skin and coat health. Essential fatty acids help your pets with their skin and coat health as well as their brain development. Vitamins and minerals help your pets with their overall health.

Whole-Food Ingredients

Whole-food ingredients are the ones that come from natural sources and have all the nutrients your pets need. These include protein, fats and fatty acids, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and water. Whole-food ingredients are better than processed ones because they don't have any artificial preservatives or chemicals.

Well-Balanced Diet

A well-balanced diet is one that has the right amount of minerals, vitamins, essential amino acids (from proteins), and essential fatty acids (from fats) for your pets. A well-balanced diet is important because it gives your pets everything they need to be healthy.

Common Ingredients in Raw Pet Food

Raw pet food is a type of food that some pet owners prefer because they think it's more natural and healthier than commercial pet food. Common ingredients in raw pet food include raw muscle meat (like chicken or beef), raw organ meat (like liver or kidney), raw bones, raw milk. While raw pet food may have some benefits, it can also be risky if it's not prepared safely. High-Quality Ingredients

High-quality ingredients are the ones that are suitable for your dog's digestive system such as meat, vegetables, grains, and fruits. High-quality ingredients are important because they give your pets the nutrients they need without any harmful preservatives or chemicals.

To sum up, feeding your pets a well-balanced diet that has all the essential nutrients they need is vital for their health and happiness. Whole-food ingredients and high-quality ingredients are also important because they give your pets the nutrients they need without any harmful preservatives or chemicals. Until next time!

How To Train a Dog By Yourself

Training a dog by yourself can be a rewarding experience. I will explore the topic in this article and give tips. It allows you to bond with your furry friend and establish a strong relationship based on trust and mutual respect. However, it can also be challenging and requires patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement.

Before you start training your dog, it's important to understand their behavior and body language. Dogs communicate through vocalizations, body posture, and facial expressions. Paying attention to these cues can help you understand their needs and respond appropriately.

The Best Way To Train A Dog

Positive reinforcement is the most effective way to train a dog. This means rewarding good behavior with treats, praise, or playtime. Punishing bad behavior is not recommended as it can lead to fear and aggression.

I start with basic commands such as sit, stay, come, and heel. These commands are essential for your dog's safety and well-being. Use treats and praise to reward your dog when they follow your commands.

Consistency is key when training a dog. Make sure everyone in the household uses the same commands and rewards good behavior in the same way. This will help your dog understand what is expected of them.

Training takes time and patience. Don't expect immediate results and don't get frustrated if your dog doesn't follow your commands right away. Keep training sessions short and fun to keep your dog engaged.

In conclusion, training a dog by yourself can be a rewarding experience. It requires patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement. Start with basic commands and use treats and praise to reward good behavior. With time and practice, you'll have a well-trained furry friend by your side.

Why We Love Our Fur Babies: Benefits of Pets For Your Health

Pets have been a part of peoples lives for centuries, and it's no surprise that they are loved by millions around the world. Apart from being a great source of joy and companionship, pets have been found to offer a wide range of benefits to their owners like significant health benefits. In this article, I will explore some of the ways in which pets can benefit our health.

One of the primary health benefits of pets is that they help to reduce stress levels. Many studies have shown that interacting with animals, whether it's stroking a cat or playing with a dog, can help to reduce cortisol levels, which is the hormone associated with stress. This can have a huge positive impact on your overall mental health, reducing anxiety and depression symptoms. I know my pets have always made me feel relaxed.

Pets can also help to lower blood pressure levels. Research has shown that spending time with a pet can help to lower blood pressure, especially in people who have high blood pressure. This can significantly reduce the risk of developing heart disease and stroke.

They are also great companions for physical exercise. Walking, running or playing with your pet can be a great way to get some physical exercise, which can help to improve your cardiovascular health, boost your immune system, and possibly help to prevent obesity by getting exersice.

They can also improve social connections and boost ones mood. Owning a pet can provide a sense of purpose, which can be especially important for people who are lonely or isolated. Additionally, they can be a great conversation starter and help to break the ice, making it easier to connect with people.

They can provide a sense of security and safety, especially for people who live alone. Many pet owners report feeling safer knowing that their pet is there to alert them to any potential danger or threat. Dogs can be loyal protectors.

In conclusion, our pets display a wide range of health benefits to their owners. From lowering stress and lowering blood pressure to providing companionship, improving social connections, and providing a sense of security, pets are more than just cute and cuddly creatures. So, if you don't already have one, consider adopting one and experience the many health benefits they offer.

Cute Jack Russell and Parson Terriers

I love Jack Russell's! Their energy and confidence is beautiful. They are a joy to play fectch with and watch run. They are one of the fastest dog breads. They were originally bread to be fox hunters because they could get into the fox holes and were fast reliable hunting dogs. They make great family pets too.

Jack Russell Terriers are a small, active breed of dog that has become popular for their energetic and lively personality. Originally bred in England in the early 19th century, these dogs were used for hunting foxes and small game.

One of the most distinquished characteristics of the Jack Russell Terrier is their high energy level. These dogs are super active and require regular exercise and playtime to stay happy and healthy. They are great for families that have an active lifestyle and love to spend time outdoors.

In addition to their high energy level, Jack Russell Terriers are also known for their intelligence and trainability. They are quick learners and can be trained to do a variety of tasks, including agility, obedience, and even tricks.

Jack Russell Terriers are also prone to a few health issues, including eye problems, deafness, and joint issues. It's important for owners to stay on top of their dog's health and schedule regular check-ups with their veterinarian.

Jack Russell Terriers make great pets for families who are active and enjoy spending time outdoors. With proper training and socialization, they can make loyal and loving companions.

Helpful Winter Tips for Severe Allergy Sufferers

My Experience Finding Sinus Relief

I started getting allergy symptoms when I was young. I had bad nasal allergies as a teenager. I would get chronic sinus infections and would often find myself going to the doctor atleast a couple times a year. I also am prone to nose bleeds and have had many bad ones due to my allergies. I am going to share some of the things that have helped me over the years of trial and error. Everyone is different and has varying severity of symptoms so I will say that what works for me may not be necessary or not work for you. I'm sure a lof of my habits will benefit everyone though.

When I started seeing doctors in the early 1990s they had some good tools for treatment but their advice was limited. It took years to find what works the best for me. Back in those days they would simply recommend a corticosteroid nasal spray and a saline mist spray squeeze bottle like the "Ocean Brand" in conjunction with an antihistamine. For some people that can be enough. There were allergy shots as immunotherapy available too. I found out later the corticosteriod sprays had alcohol and would dry my nasal passages. I would find myself using the saline spray bottles every couple hours some days to control the dryness and crusting. I stopped using the little squeeze bottles years ago and do a full sinus irrigation with a NeilMed brand saline wash instead. It is like a Neti Pot but it is a squeeze bottle. It flushes atleast 8 onces of saline water through your sinuses. This is superior to the little squeeze bottles. I can't stress enough doing this regular flush with squeeze bottle significanly improved my symptoms. It has improved my quality of life better than any medicine did. It gets rid of my symptoms like post-nasal drip and the relief lasts all day.

I do a sinus rinse with my Neil Med squeeze bottle in the morning and at night before bed. The bottle is much gentler than an actual neti "pot" with the spout on the side that looks like a flower watering pot. There was to much pressure with those pots and it gave me nosebleeds. The gentle squeeze bottle removes all the allergens like dust from your nose and my sinuses instantly open up after using it. When you use it you want to keep your head straight down over a sink and squeeze gently from the bottom of the bottle. The water runs in one nostril and out the other. It keeps the crusting down in my nose too and prevents nosebleeds. I still will get bleeding from time to time but they are way, way less now especially in the winter. In years past in the winter I would get atleast a nosebleed once or twice a month.

Helpful Tips

I will now talk about what I am currently doing as treatment and prevention. I drink a lot of water everyday. Most people do not drink enough water. In the summer I will carry around a gallon water jug and usually drink about a gallon a day even if I'm not exercising. The water helps hydrate the mucosa in your nose and sinuses. If you are properly hydrated you should have the urge to urinate upon waking up in the morning. During the day you should be urinating every couple hours also. For me two to three hours is aobut right. I take an antihistamine daily. I take Allegra 24 hour. Everyone is different but I found Zyrtec to make me a little dizzy and Claritin gave me too much dryness. When allergy symptoms are severe or in conjunction with a cold Mucinex maximum strength is beneficial. The main ingredient is guaifenesin. The maximum daily dosage in studies was shown to work the best.

Running a bedroom humidifier at night especially in the winter time when the heat is drying out the air works great to prevent nasal dryness. I have a portable Thermo Pro humidistat that reads the humidity level in the room. My humidifier is a cool mist that doesn't have a filter. It is the CVS brand and it works great. I found the lower priced ones with filters wouldn't last longer than a couple days before mildewing. The CVS one is low priced too but it works great for my bedroom.

I use the NeilMed nasal gel spray bottle sometimes too. Every night before bed I also put a good amount of petroleum jelly or Vasoline in both nostrils on my septum to prevent dryness and bleeding. I very carefully use a Q-tip cotton swab and put the Vasoline in the nostril and push it back after it reaches body tempurature in a couple minutes. I avoid touching the septum or middle bone in the nose. I use the petroleum jelly brand that is the softest when it is in the jar. I find using the petroleum jelly regularly and frequently in the winter prevents most of my nosebleeds. If I get a nosebleed I stuff a bunch of it in the nostril and it always stops the bleeding.

In my home I try and keep the temperature low to prevent the dry heat from running too much. I usually close or partially close my air vents in the bedroom to to keep the dry air down. It is a balancing act with the humidifier. Make sure you don't leave the device on when it runs out of water. This is bad for the humidifier. You have to start using it on the lower setting to see how many hours it will go. In summary, I believe if you try out atleast some of these helpful tips you will see a big improvement in allergy symptoms.

Stockcats Great Pics

Pic courtesy of Stockcats on Twitter. Follow him for cute cat pics.

Cat Pics on Twitter

I follow StockCats on Twitter. It's primarily an investing account but he posts a lot of great original pics of his many pretty cats.