Healthy Pet Products's Blog

The Best Solution for Dog Anxiety! Success Stories!!!

healthypetproducts — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 16:10:26 +0000

The Thundershirt:

With its patent-pending design, Thundershirt’s gentle, constant pressure has a dramatic calming effect for most dogs if they are anxious, fearful or over-excited. Based on surveys completed by over two thousand customers, over 80% of dogs show significant improvement in symptoms when using Thundershirt. Thundershirt is already helping tens of thousands of dogs around the world, and is recommended by thousands of veterinarians and dog trainers.

As for WHY Thundershirt’s gentle pressure works to calm a dog, experts such as Dr. Temple Grandin believe that pressure has a calming effect on the nervous system. Using pressure to relieve anxiety has been a common practice for years. For example:

TTouch dog trainers use pressure to address a wide variety of anxieties.
Veterinarians use pressure to relax cattle when they are administering vaccinations.
People with autism use pressure to relieve their persistent anxiety.
Children with certain behavioral problems use pressure shirts and weighted vests to relax and focus.
Parents use swaddling to calm an inconsolable newborn infant.

Until now, there just hasn’t been a well-designed, inexpensive pressure wrap commonly used for dog anxiety. Thundershirt is changing that! Thousands of veterinarians and dog trainers now recommend Thundershirts for their anxiety cases.

We wanted to thank you for ordering the Thunder Shirt for Gidget. Heather, the fit is great. To be very honest, Kris and I were VERY skeptical about the Thunder Shirt but we figured that if it doesn’t work, it’s a great coat for her to wear in the winter when she walks in her cart.

But Kris and I are both believers now. The Thunder Shirt was nothing short of miraculous for Gidget! Last night we didn’t get it on her until after she’d already heard the thunder. However, her level of reactivity after the shirt was on was probably 60% – 70% what it typically would have been without the shirt. So we considered it a success.

Knowing that more storms were expected we had Gidget sleep in the shirt. This morning when the thunder started, it was as if we had a different dog. The same thunder that would have had Gidget racing around the house, trying to crawl up the chimney in the fireplace and barking like a mad dog, merely garnered a few barks this morning! In fact, Gidget was so relaxed during the storm that she ate breakfast, got a few drinks and relaxed on the bed – legs sticking out behind her with her tail wagging! At times the thunder was so loud that I could hear it in the shower – but Gidget never reacted!

Thank you so much for bringing this wonderful product to us. I think that the Thunder Shirt will make a huge difference in Gidget’s life – especially as spring and the associated storms roll in!

Kindest Regards,

See Spot Slim!!!

healthypetproducts — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 16:42:30 +0000

Do you have an overweight pet??? Pine Village Veterinary, K9 Kingdom and Healthy pet Produts are sponsoring a weight loss clinic! Follow the link below for details:

http://www.myk9kingdom.com/blog/see-spot-slim-a-fitness-competition-you-wont-want-to-miss/

What Can My Dog Chew On That Will Last???

healthypetproducts — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 16:40:32 +0000

In order to correctly answer this, it’s very important to understand that all dogs need to chew and that their teeth and jaws were made for tearing meat and crushing bones. Working their jaws, teeth and gums is what helps keep their teeth clean and tartar free. Contrary to what we’ve always been told, kibble does not keep their teeth clean. Encouraging your dog to chew bones throughout their life is the most effective way to build and maintain dental health.

Puppies and adolescent dogs have a greater need to chew than do adult dogs. They have baby teeth (or teething teeth) that are razor sharp until approximately 6 months. I believe every puppy needs a Kong and this is the only product I recommend leaving them alone with. The Kong Company sells many Kong “stuffing products.” I don’t recommend these because they can contain less desirable ingredients. Try using a quality canned food with kibble, peanut butter or plain yogurt mixed with cheerios. All these combinations can be frozen which will take your dog more time to consume. Another great trick is to wet a wash cloth and freeze it. Yes, just like we do for babies! The cold helps alleviate the discomfort of the teeth pushing through the gums.

Once puppies have their adult teeth they can have antlers and raw meaty bones. They love to chew on deer, elk and even moose antlers. Antlers are as hard as bone and won’t splinter, but they must be fresh. The best raw meaty bones are the dense weight baring ones. They love to get the meat off of the outside and the marrow from the inside. Options are the femur bone from cows and buffalo. These can get messy so either put your dog outside or designate an area in the house that you can spread an old comforter out and let him go to town! Raw meaty bones will give your dog hours of chewing pleasure you some “doggie down time” as well! After your dog has spent hours on their bone it will be so clean you would have thought it were a store bought bleached one. This bone will still be safe to chew on for another week or two and clean enough to be carried throughout the house.

Another great chew that is totally natural, digestible and won’t stain your carpet is the “Bullie Stick” These are literally stretched and dried bull penises cut into many various sizes for different sized dogs. They love them as well as other types of body parts such as trachea’s, pig ears, cow hooves etc. There is always rawhide as an option depending on the type of chewer you have on your hands. I recommend the Wholesome Hide Brand. Although choking or intestinal obstruction with rawhide is a potential risk, it’s quite rare, and can be avoided with a little common-sense. Keep in mind that there is no such thing as an indestructible chew or toy.

There are many products available that are marketed as edible and non-edible dental chews. Please, use extreme caution before choosing any of these. Remember that companies are very skilled at making a product appear safe and wholesome. Read every single ingredient and buy made in the good old USA only, for many apparent reasons.

All dogs big and small have a natural instinct to chew and exercise. If we inhibit them from this it could manifest into other behavioral problems. Simply put “let your dog be a dog!”

Probiotics for Pets…Really???

healthypetproducts — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 17:24:56 +0000

Probiotic has been the latest buzzword in the human supplement world and they are even being added to foods. As you would guess, this new healthy trend has now trickled over into the pet industry. It seems that a host of brands are adding probiotics to their food and new probiotic supplements for pets are showing up all the time. But what are they and does that necessarily mean our pets can & will benefit from them? The answer is absolutely! Probiotics are and always will be an essential supplement for improving the overall health of our pets.

So what are Probiotics? They are live microorganisms AKA “good bacteria” that live in the digestive track where 75 % of our immune system support develops and lives. There are more than 500 different bacterial species that keep intestinal linings healthy and assist in breaking down food. Beneficial organisms are also believed to help regulate healthy immune response.

The balance of this friendly bacteria can be disturbed by such things as simple aging, poor diet, stress or antibiotic use. For these reasons and many others it’s important to complement your immunity system with a probiotic supplement. Although some pet foods have now started adding probiotics, I’m still recommending that we give and or take them in supplement form. Reason being, probiotics are live microorganisms that begin dying immediately after they are manufactured. This process also exposes them to a high degree of heat, which also takes away from their effectiveness. So, if they are added to the food before the cooking process, most if not all will die. Some companies will spray the probiotics on after the cooking process. This procedure is better as long as the company allows the food to cool before hand. So, depending on the ethics of the company it’s essentially a marketing ploy. Not to mention that the probiotics would have to pass through hostile stomach acid and bile to get to the intestine. The intestine is where the probiotics need to plant in order to seed the dog’s intestinal tract with healthy flora .

One more thing to consider when shopping for a good probiotic is to see if prebiotics are added. “Pre”biotics are the nutrients that act as the energy source or food for the “good” bacteria that live in the intestinal tract. They help the beneficial bacteria thrive. Prebiotics are a specialized form of fiber that occurs naturally in foods such as chicory, asparagus, artichokes, garlic, honey, wheat and oats. One of the most common prebiotics is FOS or fructooligosaccharides. These, unlike “pro”biotics, are not vulnerable to heat and have a stable shelf life.

The Right Probiotics Will:

1. Help maintain a healthy digestion

2. Help treat diarrhea and prevent diarrhea and constipation.

3. Help eliminate smelly stools and bad-smelling gas

4. Help reduce bad breath

5. Help counteract the destructive side effects of antibiotic therapy

6. Help prevent shedding and scratching caused by stress from digestive imbalances

7. Improve dog smell overall.

8. Reduce excess gas

9. Help control yeast and yeast related rashes and skin problems.

10. Helps reduce hairballs in cats.

We discuss all of the above ailments on a daily basis here at Healthy Pet Products. So, chances are your pet has at least one one of the above ailments. Hopefully this has encouraged you to start your pet on a good probiotic and on a better road to health and wellness.

Toxic Pet Products!!!

healthypetproducts — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:39:43 +0000

Those of you with children may remember the massive recall of 23 million toys after lead was discovered in toys made in China. The public outcry was tremendous because lead is associated with neurological damage. Hopefully those of you with pets began to wonder, “If there is lead in children’s toys then there has to be in our pets toys?” Well, the answer in most cases is yes! Other causes for concern are pthalates, chemical dyes, chromium, cadmium, mercury and BPA, just to mention a few, that could be found in toys, bedding and bowls.

After the 2007 recalls, Trace Laboratories tested Paws N’ Claws tennis balls and they found an astounding 27,200ppm lead levels in the ink on the balls. They also tested a ceramic food dish and found lead levels at 2,890 ppm. The lead levels in both these items far exceed the level set for human toys currently at 300 ppm. Pets chew long and hard on toys and lead comes off more readily after a pet’s saliva soaks the toy and begins to partially digest the surface allowing for toxic accumulation. Symptoms of lead poisoning are vague and mimic other conditions such as: anemia, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, seizures, blindness, deafness and behavioral changes.

So you ask, what’s being done about this? Since the children’s toy recall a government agency “Consumer Product Safety Commission” or CPSC has tightened regulations by imposing the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. The act reduces the limit of total lead content in children products from 600ppm (parts per million) to 300ppm effective 8/14/09. Other regulations include pthalates not to exceed .1%, mandatory testing and certification.

Unfortunately, (as you could probably guess) no action has been take for the pet product industry and there are no regulations governing it either. Therefore, all we can continue to do is educate ourselves on what is safe for our pets and what isn’t. Here are some basic guidelines to follow:

Use glass or stainless steel dishes

Use only sport tennis balls, not tennis balls made as pet toys

Visit websites that monitor and rate specific toys or brands for toxins. Such as,

www.healthystuff.org and www.goodguide.com

Avoid plastics containing polyvinyl chloride (PVC). PVC is brittle and is often augmented with pthalates and stabilizing heavy metals.

Purchase products Made in the USA

Avoid toys made of synthetic latex

Contact the company and ask

Lastly let’s look at the quality of rawhide…According to Cattle Network. The U.S. exports more than $1billion in cattle hides to China every year, and guess what they do with them? They make them into rawhide chews for pets and ship them right back to us! Something else to think about is when hides are stripped from the animal they are perishable and should be kept cool till processing. Hides shipped to China are trucked to the west coast and loaded onto ships. It can take weeks to reach the Chinese port and hides are commonly covered in mold and have to be bleached upon arrival. Then they go through a chemical processing to help preserve them and that’s just the beginning. It’s imperative to buy rawhide that is made in the USA!

I chose to write on this topic now because we are approaching gift giving season. Knowledge is power my friends, so it’s my hope this article will make you think twice before grabbing that cute stuffed Santa Claus made in China to put in your pets stocking. Let’s think twice. Don’t be naughty…be nice to man’s best friend!

The Finicky Cat………..

healthypetproducts — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:09:46 +0000

If only I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard this come out of a customers mouth!

First of all, it’s a good idea to ask your vet whenever you have questions regarding problems that can be health related. Loss of appetite, especially when it happens suddenly, can be related to so many physical conditions that a visit to the vet is a must. If your vet gives you a clean bill of health, we can offer you a few suggestions.

As you’ve heard me say before, “DON’T FREE FEED!” Free feeding means always having food in the bowl available for them to eat whenever they want. Food will be much more appealing to them if not always available. Remember, they are hunters and would never have food whenever they wanted. Therefore, they should be put on a feeding schedule of two times per day. A measured amount of food should be put out for twenty minutes and what they don’t eat is part of the next meal. The location should be quiet and comfortable for instance the laundry room. If you have more than one cat consider feeding them in separate rooms. They are solitary eaters and this would also prevent a dominant cat from eating the others food.

Cats can get addicted to foods especially grocery and lower quality brands. The reasons why they get addicted are no different than in humans. These foods have added chemicals, sugar and are packed with carbohydrates. Dry food is sprayed with fats and animal digest to make it more palatable. The fats they use are typically used restaurant grease. What is animal digest:

“a cooked-down broth” which can be made from unspecified parts of unspecified animals. The animals used can be obtained from almost any source and no control is in place over quality or contamination. Any kind of animal can be included “4-D animals” (dead, diseased, disabled, or dying prior to slaughter), goats, pigs, horses, rats, euthanize at animal shelters, restaurant and supermarket refuse and so on.

Consider making the switch to canned or raw food. Many cats prefer it—and it has health benefits, too. We recommend reversing your thinking of dry food being the primary and wet the secondary. It should be the opposite and if you can eliminate dry food completely, even better. Canned and raw diets because of their high water content are especially good for cats with kidney problems, diabetes or a tendency to form crystals in their urine. Cats get most of their water requirements from what they eat.

Another thing to try are food toppers. We sell Bonito Flakes, chicken & turkey sprinkles and even cat nip. All these can be sprinkled on food to entice the finicky eater. If you have a finicky cat except when it comes to the treats, you may want to consider foregoing the treats so he/she is hungrier at meal time. I know this will cause a lot of meowing but will be well worth the tough love. We have many samples of dry food that you can use as treats to help transition your cat to a higher quality food.

Making the switch can take time and patience. Cats can get imprinted on a foods taste and texture so adding a small amount of new food with the old is what I recommend. A small amount is an 1/8^th of a teaspoon. Gradually, increase from there, there is no need to rush. Believe it or not your cat could have you trained to put something better in the bowl so put the food down and walk away!

Cat Litter is Just Cat Litter, Right???

healthypetproducts — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:54:03 +0000

Not at all! You should ask the following questions when coosing a litter:

Is it free of chemicals, perfumes and dyes?
Is it flushable?
Is it relatively odor-free?
Does it produce a minimal amount of dust and/or tracking?
Is it safe for you, your cat, and the environment?
Is it biodegradable?
Does it have a texture that appeals to your cat?

90% of cat litter is made from clay. The problem with clay litters, which are made from sodium bentonite, is that it produces alot of dust which contain silicon particles. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has proven that silicon is a known carcinogen in humans. Since this type of litter is dusty your cats are breathing it in and also licking it off of their fur. Breathing this in can lead to respiratory infections. But when cats lick themselves clean and ingest the clay, it can prevent nutrient absorption and cause intestinal blockage as it swells when exposed to intestinal liquids. And if you care about the environment sodium bentonite is heavily strip mined.

Fortunately, there are many alternatives to clay litter. There is litter made from recycled newspaper, plant based and wood shavings or sawdust.

The first being recycled newspaper has no added chemicals perfumes or dyes. Therefore making it biodegradable, flushable, dust free and safe. Simple as that.

Second is plant based litters which we are seeing alot more of these coming onto the market. These are environmentally friendly because they are made from renewable, biodegradable resources. The most popular and effective plant based litters are made from corn and wheat. Litter made from corn are naturally absorbant, clumping and safe. Cats convert well to it because of its similarities to clay based. Although you will find that it is more expensive it will last longer than clay litter. The only negative to corn based litter is you do have to scoop on a regular basis because mold could grow in moist dark environments on corn, like the litter box. Wheat is another plant based option you have to choose from. Wheat has a naturally pleasant smell which helps with the odor control. It’s clumpable, flushable in small quantities and natural and safe. The only negative is scooping daily to help with odor control.

Thirdly is litter made from pine or cedar wood shavings or sawdust. Also natural, biodegradable and environmentally friendly which also makes it safe.. It is not dusty and odor control is excellent in this category but clumpability is minimal. You may have to look for a differnt type of scooper for this litter. Frequent changing of the box is necessary.

If you’d like to switch from clay litter to something more natural, safe and healthy I recommend doing it slowly. I’d first try one that fits into your budget and add 25% new litter to 75% old for a few days and see the response. If the cat refuses the box this is not the right litter. However, if your cat continues using the box as normal bump up to 50/50 for a few days. If use continues go to 75% new with 25% old and then bingo you should have your cat using the new litter.

I realize cats are reluctant to change but it I highly advise atleast attempting to switch from clay based for the long term health and wellness of your cat.

Tips for Safe Flea & Tick Control

healthypetproducts — Wed, 05 May 2010 17:47:36 +0000

Now that the weather has finally broken it’s time for us and our pets to get out and enjoy it. Unfortunately this also means the beginning of flea & tick season! I’ve already pulled a tick off of Meg and I’m sure many of you can say the same. That being said, I’m going to offer you some tips that will hopefully prevent fleas and ticks or at least minimize the chance of an infestation.
Believe it or not, the healthier your pet is the less likely fleas/ticks will “latch” on. I know I sound like a broken record but it is of utmost importance to feed an “all natural” pet food. Pet food made and sourced in the USA with no chemical preservatives, by-products, food coloring or partial grains can and will have a preventative effect when it comes to flea & tick invasions. Check our website or www.petsumerreport.com to see if your food qualifies.
Another preventative & natural thing we can do is add a small amount of garlic or garlic powder to your DOGS, not cats, food daily. I know some of you are saying, “But, I thought garlic was toxic?” This is true, but only in very high doses. Garlic gets into the bloodstream and the fleas don’t like the taste of it. This will also improve your pets immune system, just like it does for us! When dealing with preventative measures for ticks, we want to use black walnut hulls. You can find this in capsule form at most health food stores. We’ve been telling all of our customers about this all winter, so if you’re just getting started allow 6-8 weeks of use for it to build up in the bloodstream and be effective. Another preventative method is the use of diatomaceous earth. This is a talcum like powder made up of fossilized remains of unicellular plants that can be added to your vacuum bag, floors and even pet bedding. It’s lethal to insects.
Beneficial nematodes can also be sprinkled or sprayed throughout your yard. Nematodes are microscopic worms that eat flea larvae. This will help keep the population down in your yard.
There are several essential oil sprays and wipes that can be used on your pets before going out that repel fleas and ticks. These sprays are comprised of essential oils such as lemongrass, pine cedar, bergamot and citronella just to mention a few. These sprays and wipes are effective and safe for any pet that spends a good bit of time outside.
Buying a flea comb and grooming your dog at least once a week can alert you to fleas before they get out of control. More frequent vacuuming and washing of your pets bedding this time of year can also be helpful in the prevention of an outbreak.
If you already have an infestation of fleas it is nearly impossible to get rid of them naturally. So, if and when this happens, I recommend the flea/tick topical treatments that your vets sell. However, the goal is always to use these products as minimally as possible, which is why prevention is so important. These topical flea/tick treatments are chemical insecticides that we are putting directly on our pets skin. Their natural oils in their skin spread the chemical over their entire body. They work by disrupting the central nervous system of infesting insect. Am I making your skin crawl yet?
I urge you to use chemical flea treatments as minimally as possible and consider all of the above mentioned natural tips. If you have any other questions/concerns stop by and see us as we carry most of these products at our store along with the healthiest pet food! Remember prevention is the best medicine so let’s do what we know is right for our best furry friends!

Just In! New Chew!?!

healthypetproducts — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 15:57:33 +0000

Himalayan Dog Chew comes from an ancient recipe of the people of the Himalayas and Nepal. In the mountains surrounding Mt. Everest at more than 15,000 feet, it is made using traditional methods with Yak or Cow milk, all natural products, and no chemicals or preservatives.

Now, this piece of Himalayan culture is available to you and your dog from Healthy Pet Products! Check out their website for more info www.himalayandogchew.com

March Article: Household Toxins as seen in North Hills Monthly

healthypetproducts — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:58:22 +0000

Ever wonder if the toys our pets play with or the beds or carpet they lay on effect their health? The chemicals we use to achieve a “perfect” lawn, our everyday medications, and the cleaning agents under our kitchen sinks have toxic effects to humans and animals alike. Our pets however, are smaller and closer to the ground therefore making them more susceptible to poisoning. Over-the-counter medications, household chemicals, and even foods for human consumption should be stored with much care and concern.
There are no government standards regulating hazardous chemicals in pet products, that responsibility falls into our hands. Fortunately, there are non-profit organizations to help us sort through many of these hazards. HealthyStuff.org tested over 400 products, beds, chews, toys, collars and leashes, revealing alarming levels of toxic chemicals. One-quarter of all pet products tested had detectable levels of lead, 7% had levels higher than 300 parts per million (ppm), the current standard for lead levels in children’s products. Think twice before choosing any of these products for your pets, be especially cautious of tennis balls. USA made products are a much safer choice but you still have to ask a store employee.
Lawn sprays and treatments should be given special attention, our pets spend so much of their time in the yard, they lick their paws, and even eat the grass. We are told these very chemicals are safe once dry, but what else would we expect them to say. Humans are less likely to have direct prolonged contact with lawn surfaces in comparison to our pets. Lawn treatment companies use pesticides, insecticides, and herbicides specifically designed to kill lawn pests, all of which are harmful to us and our pets. Insecticides work by interfering with the nervous system, killing insects shortly after contact. Under normal circumstances insecticides do not kill humans or animals, but they can have detrimental effects to the nervous system. Herbicides are used to kill unwanted plants and weeds and are believed to be associated with the development of malignant lymphomas.
Our every day medications, NSAIDS, anti-depressants, acetaminophen, pseudoephedrine amongst others are all harmful to our pets and should be clearly labeled and stored well away from their reach. Household chemicals can cause gastric upsets simply from inhalation. Even our pantries can be a hazard zone for our pets. Grapes, raisins, chocolates, onions, coffee, and artificial sweeteners (xylitol) are just a few potential food hazards. If you suspect that your pet has been poisoned please seek veterinary attention immediately! Collect any pill bottles or remnants of anything you think your pet may have injested. You should also collect the vomit to take with you. The more information you can give the vet the more likely they will be able to save your pet. I suggest visiting the ASPCA’s website to view a complete list of toxins. www. aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control. Print this list out and post it on your refrigerator. You can also request a free ASPCA Poison Control Hotline Magnet. A donation wouldn’t be a bad idea while your their either! Let’s keep our pets safe and with us for as long as possible.