Raw Food Diets: Is there Any Evidence They Work?

One very popular trend now is switching dogs over to a raw food diet. You can either choose to make this food yourself or buy it from commercial, raw food providers. There are several things to consider before choosing if this option is right for you and your dog. A change in a dog’s diet is not something to consider lightly and takes time. Any type of switch in food types must be done slowly, whilst carefully watching how your pet reacts.

Raw diets have still not been scientifically proven to be better for dogs. Raw feeding is also not recommenced by vets. Raw food can pose many threats to humans and dogs, especially considering the bacteria, parasites and other potential pathogens that can be in raw meat. If you do decide on a raw diet, it is recommended that you do not make it at home, to try and help decrease these risks, but to purchase it from a commercial seller (preferably one that is a member of PFMA) as they will have certain health regulations to follow.

Raw diets are especially dangerous in a household with anyone who could be immunocompromised (very young, pregnant or older family members). Before making any diet changes for your pet, you should always consult your vet and get a professional opinion.

Tips for meeting likeminded pet owners

They say it’s pretty easy to meet other pet owners but that’s not always the case. Of course you can walk your dog and bump into people every now and then and ask them how they are, how old their dog is and see what their plans are for the weekend, but this just isn’t the norm. A quick nod or just a “hello” is more likely, and what if you’re a cat owner or perhaps a bunny lover? Where can you meet likeminded individuals?

The best places are training sessions, especially if you have a young pet. Every animal needs training of some kind and there are likely to be plenty of training sessions in your local area. It may be surprising to know how many people have a pet just like yours, so even if you have an iguana or a pet that’s a little bit are, there may be some courses and training days where you can put your pet parenting skills to use! If you read a pet magazine every now and then, you’ll probably find tons of advertisement whereby specialist trainers are advertising opening on courses and evening classes, so be sure to look out!

Another quality option for meeting pet owners like you is at events and shows. There are loads of dog and cat shows throughout the UK, all year round, so be sure to check out the best ones online and buy tour ticket early. It’s the perfect place to strike up conversations about your animal and quiz people on their own pets. You could even take your cat or dog along to make friends. Following this, you could check for groups on Facebook as well as pet forums. You can chat with likeminded people without leaving the comfort of your own home, and that will suit many people! It’s also a great place to educate yourself on your animal and learn more about their behaviour.

So that’s a good amount to start looking out for! With magazines, forums, social media accounts, shows and events, there’s loads of ways to get involved in a community based around your particular pet. It just takes a little time and research to get the ball rolling, but there will be so many opportunity if you start opening up to these kinds of methods. Whether you own a dog, cat, rabbit, snake, turtle or lizard, there’s a lot you can learn and a community in which you can get involved with.

We did want to make one final point, and that’s on evening classes. With these classes you will learn more than you ever anticipated. A professional can guide you through all of the stages of care so no stone is left unturned, including feeding, rewarding, discipline, health, behaviour and fitness. These courses will generally run for one hour a week, but there’s usually the option for private lessons too if you desire. And as discussed, it’s certainly a great way to meet pet owners just like you.

Biodegradable Dog Bags

Dog bags are an unfortunate part of taking your dog out for a walk. Every pet owner has a responsibility to not inflict their pet’s mess on other people, and while leaving dog waste is, from one perspective at least, not quite as bad as littering, stepping on their waste is a pretty grotesque experience.

One of the worst things that can happen when you are picking up your dog’s waste is to have your bag break, so one of the most important things to look for when buying your dog bags is durability.

That being said, we have an unfortunate situation where dog bags are often sent directly towards landfills, and when they aren’t biodegradable that can be a problem. We have the option to purchase biodegradable bags, which is yet another way for dog owners to be responsible owners.

Collar vs Harnesses, the Pros and Cons of Each

The two main types of dog handling equipment for a dog owner are the leash and collar, and the leash and harness. Each of these tools have their pros and cons from the standpoint of a pet owner, of which we’ve laid out a few for each:

Collars;

Leashes can be attached to both leashes and harnesses with relative ease, so that doesn’t really come into the equation. Where it does come into is what happens once the leash has been removed; a harness will continue to restrict movement, whereas a collar can sit more comfortably on a dog’s neck.

When the leash is still attached to the collar, dogs can often pull against the leash and hurt themselves through choking, as most dog owners will have experienced.

Harnesses;

Harnesses have a lot of advantages over a collar, as they can provide far greater control over your pet and do so more safely for their health as well. This is particularly important for larger dogs that can potentially overpower their owners.

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What you Need to Know About Dog Treats

A lot of people don’t exercise the same level of scrutiny on their dog’s treats as they do on their own treats, but unfortunately this trend persists into the realms of government regulation and inspection. The amount of work that goes into inspecting animal food-stuffs is considerably lower than our own, and as a result, we see far higher levels of food contamination, improper storing and more.

There are things that you can do to increase the reliability of your dog treats. One of the best methods is to buy as locally as possible. If you buy from international sources, such as from China, the level of regulation is going to be even lower. We have even seen how the FDA has repeatedly been called to investigate chicken jerky for dogs that was made in China, as there seems to be a relationship between that product and kidney failure in pets.