(ARA) - Our pets tend to eat the same way we do, which means - unfortunately - more cats and dogs suffer from unbalanced diets, obesity, food allergies and other health problems related to nutrition.
You can keep your playful dog in excellent shape and your cute and cuddly kitty lean and trim with the following nutrition tips from 1-800-PetMeds. If your pet is super-cute, you can enter the 1800PetMeds World Games Pet Photo Contest and win $1,000.
* Check the ingredients in your pet's food.
Some of those beautifully packaged brand foods for dogs and cats can contain a lot of grains, and cats and dogs do not have the right organs to process corn, wheat, rice or oats. A small amount of grain isn't bad, but healthy dogs and cats need protein as the top ingredient in their food.
* Sugars are a no-no.
Dogs have limited sugar tasters on their tongues, and cats don't have any. They don't get the same pleasant reaction that you get when eating something sweet. Since sugar has the same bad influences on your pet's body as yours, keep the sugar away from them.
* Allergies not always caused by fleas.
While fleas are the most common cause of allergies for dogs and cats, what your pet eats is near the top of the list. For dog food allergies, 66 percent are caused by beef, dairy and wheat ingredients. For cat food allergies, 90 percent are caused by beef, dairy and fish ingredients. A number of tests can help determine what your pet is allergic to, and while there is no cure, you can probably find a treatment.
* Keep track of medications.
Just like you have to tell you doctor about all the different drugs you're taking to prevent drug interaction, you need to speak with your veterinarian about all the pet meds your dog or cat takes. Make sure you keep a list of shots your pet receives, and discuss the brands of food and oral hygiene you use.
For additional pet health tips from PetMeds or to find your favorite pet medicine, visit www.1800-PetMeds.com.
With a happy and healthy pet giving you smiles and showing off with crazy antics all around your house, don't forget to grab your camera and snap a few photos. You can submit pet photos to the PetMeds World Games Pet Photo Contest. Categories include cutest pet, funniest pet, look alike pet and ugliest pet. Each month a winner will be drawn from each category and win $1,000.
Go to contest.1800petmeds.com to submit your photo, or to vote for the current contestants. Close ups and full-body shots of single animals are required.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
No comments:
Post a Comment