For many pet owners, their dog is like one of the family. They love their dog deeply and want only the best for them. Maintaining your dog’s health ensures he will have a long and happy life with you, and a crucial part of this is feeding your dog the right food. Holistic dog food is one of the best choices you can make for your pet.

Other types of dog food may have additives which can be harmful for your pet, but holistic dog food, especially natural organic dog food, mimics the natural diet your dog would eat in the wild. By mimicking its natural diet you are helping your dog to live a more natural and healthier life.

A big advantage of feeding your pet holistic dog food is that it is likely to improve your dog’s immune system, making it healthier. While the meat in commercial food may have antibiotics in it, organic dog food does not, which keeps your dog’s immune system strong, and ready to fight off any infection.

Your dog will also be healthier because holistic dog food is likely to have a better balance of minerals and nutrients, helping to maintain a healthy digestive system, and helping your dog build strong muscles, teeth and bones. This will also help keep your dog healthy into its advanced years.

Do you show your dog? If so natural dog food is still a good choice, because it aids in a glossy coat and bright eyes. Judges at dog shows look for healthy animals, and there is nothing healthier than a natural well balanced diet. Just like with humans, when a dog is healthy it shows in everything they do, from their movements to the way they hold themselves.

But where can you get natural dog food? You can make it yourself, from recipes on the internet. Be careful to source only the best of ingredients and experiment with ratios until you find something which works for you and your pet. If the recipe will freeze properly, considering making a large batch every month to save time.

If you don’t want to make the food yourself, then ask your vet or your dog’s breeder for recommendations of natural dog food manufacturers. Otherwise browse through the selection of foods at your local pet store, being careful to read labels properly to find a good food.

Although it does require some extra effort, and extra cost, holistic dog food is a worthwhile expense. If you care about your pet, then you’ll surely agree that being able to spend more time with your pet, and more time in which your pet is living a happy and healthy life, is worth the time and money.

One of the biggest decisions you will make is to adopt a puppy for your family. Finding the perfect little four legged edition to your family is important, there are a lot of things to consider. The first two major issues are figuring out how to adopt a puppy and where you can adopt one from.

There are a number of places of places were you can adopt a puppy. There are listings in most local newspapers that can be found in the classified sections. You can also visit a local veterinary office most of them have a community board where people place signs for puppies that are available.

Your local Human Society or Pet Rescue also has puppies that are available for adoption. You can check with your local pet supply stores as to when they will be hosting their next pet adoption days. There are pet stores that also have animals that are available for adoption. Finally, don’t feel like you can only adopt a dog locally, you can also search the internet for breeders and adopt a puppy that way.

What is the difference between all of these places when it comes to adopting a puppy? There are two main differences, one is cost. Adopting from a pet store is probably going to be the most expensive route to adopt a dog. Paying more does not mean that you are getting a better dog. If you are able, visit all the options that you have available to you. Go to the Humane Society, visit the Pet Refuge, talk to a number of people before you decide on a puppy.

The second major difference between where you are going to adopt a puppy is where the puppy came from. If you go with independent people that have placed ads in the newspapers, you can ask them if the puppies they have are good with kids, have then been house broken, what shots have they had.

If you choose to go with a breeder they can answer the same questions. I am not going to tell you that one option is better then they other, but you need to ask questions to make sure you are getting the right puppy for you and your family.

Now that we have covered where you can adopt a puppy, let’s look at how. Again this is going to depend on where you decide to adopt a puppy from. If you go through an independent person, either a breeder or your neighbor the adoption is pretty simple. You pay them for the puppy and the puppy comes home with you. If you go through a place such as the Humane Society or the Pet Rescue the process is a little different.

The Pet Rescue will actually interview you, ask you a number of questions to make sure that you are a good fit for the puppy. Their goal is to make sure the animals they have are placed in loving, healthy and safe environments. The Humane Society is similar, they will ask about any other animals you have, they will also have the pet spayed or neutered before they come home with you.

In most states both of the Humane Society and the Pet Rescue will have the puppy micro chipped as well. This is for the safety of the puppy, in case he/she ever gets away from you and are found, the Humane Society and the Pet Rescue can get the pup back to you.

Where ever you decide to adopt a puppy from make sure that you are getting the right dog for you and your home. Realize that adopting a puppy is a lot like having a baby. They need love, they need care, they need patience and understanding.

The Truth About Dog Food

"The Food Your Feeding Your Dog May Actually Be Killing Him"

Thats a shame isn’t it, that the commercial dog food you’re feeding yor dog may actually be poison. Most of the pets foods claim to have all the nutrients your dog will ever need. The reality is most do not. Add to the fact that most are filled with "meat by-products", you know, the non-rendered, other than meat, derived from slaughtered mammals. It includes, but is not limited to, lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, livers, blood, bone, partially defatted low temperature fatty tissue, and stomachs and intestines freed of their contents. Here is what that don’t tell you "it might also contain parts from sick or dying animals".

How Do We Keep Our Furry Family Members Safe?

While researching what I wanted to feed my dogs I found out some interesting facts. Most dog food contains at least 6 deadly chemicals that have been banned from human foods because they cause a variety of diseases, such as:

1. Kidney Cancer
2. Leukemia
3. Immune System Collapse
4. Birth Defects
5. Chronic Diarrhea
6. Major Organ Failure
7. and many others

Now There’s a Place Where You Can Get All The Information You Need To Help Keep Your Dog Safe

The Pooch Place

The best way to take care of your pet is to educate yourself. I have prepared a Free report titled "Safe Dog Food and Treats" For Your FREE COPY just fill out the form below.

Hi everyone. Goldie here. I’m on a mission to tell every dog owner and future dog owner about the evils of heartworms. This is something I know first hand, and I don’t want any other dog to have to go through what I went through.

Unfortunately, Heartworm Disease is not something us pups can protect ourselves against. It is, however, something our humans can protect us from. Here’s a little background on the evil heartworm:

Now, I’m no veterinarian, but I’ve learned a few things from my vet and from my mom, who has done a lot of reading on this subject. Heartworms are transmitted to us dogs by mosquitoes carrying heartworm larvae. The mosquito gets the larvae from biting an infected dog, so as you see, it’s a vicious cycle.

Now after the larvae (the technical term is microfilariae) enter the dog’s bloodstream, they migrate in the body for several months while growing into mature worms. These adult worms can be as long as 12 inches and live for 5 – 7 years! And, one dog can have as many as 250 worms! Gross! I can’t believe I had these things living inside me!

The adult worms live inside the heart, lungs, and associated blood vessels. They reproduce and have baby worms. The severity of the disease depends on the number of icky worms present as well as how old the dog is and how active she is. These evil worms work to destroy the dog’s heart and lungs and can even damage the liver and kidneys.

Okay, here’s the part I know from experience. In a dog infected with heartworms, you probably won’t even know there’s anything going on in the early stages. Later on, you may notice a cough and your precious doggy may not be as active as she normally is.

In a bad case, you’ve got the cough and fatigue, plus the dog will have trouble breathing and may even pass out! During a veterinary exam, the doctor may notice abnormal lung and heart sounds, enlargement of the liver, among other things. If left untreated, heartworm disease will end in a miserable death for the poor doggy.

I had heartworms while I was pregnant and boy, you talk about not feeling good! Don’t worry, though, dogs cannot transmit heartworms to their puppies, other dogs or people.

As nasty as all this sounds, heartworm disease can be treated. It’s best if you catch it in the early stages. That way the treatment is more effective and less difficult for the dog. Unfortunately, mine wasn’t caught until it was a severe infection. In severe cases, it is much harder on the dog.

If you read part two of my story, you already know the treatment almost killed me twice! The only drug approved for use in dogs to eliminate the adult heartworms is an organic arsenical compound. Sounds scary, right? It is! Most treatments require one to three injections of this deep into the muscle tissue of the back. Talk about painful!

The dying worms can get stuck in the blood vessels and make the dog really sick, or even kill her! After all the adults are killed off, then the vet will go after the babies. This is less intense.

Now, after all that, you might be asking me, “Goldie, what can I do to ensure that my precious doggy does not have to go through this?” I’m glad you asked. There are many, many options out there for heartworm prevention.

There are daily and monthly options that are easy to give to us. Some of us even think the monthly pills are tasty! Your veterinarian can suggest one that is right for your dog. Heartworm disease used to just be a problem in the warm South and coastal areas, but now, cases have shown up all over the country.

I take heartworm prevention year-round, but again, your veterinarian can tell you if you need prevention year-round or seasonally. You have to get the preventive from a veterinarian, but don’t think of it as a bother, think of it as saving your best friend from a miserable disease! Also, your vet will want to test the pooch before starting them on prevention, and will recommend a regular testing schedule.

Heartworms are nasty, horrible creatures, but us doggies do not have to suffer from them! Please, all doggy parents, talk to your veterinarian about how you can prevent them in your beloved companion. Every doggy parent that gives their furbaby heartworm prevention is helping to achieve Goldie’s Dream – the dream of all doggies having loving homes, and the care they need!

jo

**Heartworm information gathered from personal experience and the following websites:

http://www.heartworm society.org/CanineHeartwormInfo.htm

http://www.homevet.com/petcare/heartwor.html